Subscribe to the newsletter
Eight production students have almost completed their first school year at Damen Naval. The students are following the ‘Beroeps Begeleidende Leerweg’ at local college Scalda and are being trained as all-round construction workers or welders. Ten months after we introduced them, we check how they are doing.
Senior secondary vocational education level (MBO) students who have chosen a vocational training programme (BBL) have an employment contract with an employer. In their first year of study, students work for their employer for one day and receive vocational education for three days. They also follow theory lessons at school one day a week. During the course of the training, the students work more and more days at their company.
The welders
The welders (from left): Coen Thiellier, Jimmy Post, Youri van Putten, Ramon van de Zande, Jurgen Dronkers and Krezo Blokpoel.
Foreman Ramon van de Zande supervises the four BBL students who are taking the welding course. “It’s going well; it’s a nice team and they are developing well. They are very eager to learn and it’s nice to have young guys on the site. They have fun now and then, but they also work hard.” As it has been over ten years since apprentices were trained at the yard, the past year has also been a learning experience for Ramon. “Supervising is fun work, but it also takes a lot of time: you have to grade reports, exams have to be taken and in the meantime there is plenty of work to do.” Fortunately, Jimmy Post, Senior Piping Supervisor, who joined Damen Naval in February, is helping him. “He also always supervised apprentices in his previous job and that experience comes in handy now.”
Krezo Blokpoel (22) is in his final year of welding training and started at Damen Naval on 1 November 2021.
“I am having a great time here. It has been quite a busy year with jobs for the MLU of the Johan de Witt and the super yacht. I am the only TIG welder, so I get to do all kinds of things. I’m in my final year and I want to continue studying and specialise using different metals. There are so many possibilities in such a big company like this. I would like to eventually grow into a cooperating foreman or even a project leader.”
Coen Thiellier (19) is in his third year of welding and has been working at Damen Naval since 6 September.
“I now work as an electrode welder and MIG/MAG welder and have been able to work on the hull for the superyacht and on the Midlife Update of the Johan de Witt. I enjoy the MLU the most. The technical requirements for welding on defence projects are somewhat higher and I find it more exciting to work on them as a welder. Next year, I want to see how I can develop myself further. I want to do some other training and develop further as a welder.”
The result of the Test of Competence.
Krezo and Coen recently successfully completed their Test of Competence. They had to make a practical piece of work within one week. They received a drawing and then had to arrange the materials, arrange the right tools, show that they could handle certain machines, demonstrate various welding techniques, delegate and supervise other students, take measurements and carry out quality control. “It’s a tough test,” Ramon explains. “But they both passed with good marks. They can both be very proud of that.”
Jurgen Dronkers (17) has completed his first year as a welder and has decided not to continue.
“I really enjoyed my time at Damen Naval, but I have decided to switch to another course. I really like working on scooters and cars and I think an education in car mechanics would suit me better. I like the company here, the colleagues are nice and the guidance was very good, but the work doesn’t suit me. I’d rather do a course in a field where I can see myself working in.”
Youri van Putten (17) has also completed his first year as a welder, but will be returning.
“I knew Damen Naval before I came to work here and the work is what I expected. In the beginning, of course, we were not allowed to do so much and it was also quieter in the production area. Now it is a lot busier and because I got my first certificates, I can also work in production. I was recently allowed to do some welding on the Johan de Witt. Shipbuilding is a special thing and I enjoy doing this work.”
The construction workers
The construction workers (from left): Michael Uijleman, Martyllo Henriquez, Cees van Cadsand, Jonas van der Heijden and Hubert Dametka.
The four construction trainees are supervised by Senior Foreman Cees van Cadsand, a task he has taken on with great pleasure over the past year. “You notice that in the beginning they have to get used to the fact that they are no longer at school, but working for a real company with the obligations that go with it. But I see all four of them growing and enjoying themselves here. The colleagues also enjoy working with them and they are very willing to share their knowledge.”
For Cees too, it took some getting used to being responsible for the four during their training. “It takes some getting used to, but we have had training and I am now a BBL-accredited supervisor. I hope we can continue to do this for the time being. It’s great to see them develop and find their niche at the yard.”
Jonas van der Heijden (21), will soon be completing his first year as a construction worker.
“It’s nice to see that we are gaining more and more knowledge about the work and are also allowed to do more. I like it very much; I even like it more than before. Now we can get our hands dirty. I’ve mainly been working on the superyacht: putting up frames, doing some odd jobs, that sort of thing. It’s great to see the sections being built. The supervision is very good and I get along well with everyone. I can see a future for myself here.”
Hubert Dametka, 22, is going into his second year of training as a construction worker.
“Jonas and I work together a lot and it’s nice that the two of us get our own assignments. We can also work more independently now. I love technology and it’s great to see ships being built. Until now, I have only worked on the yacht and that is nice, but a frigate would be even nicer. My mother’s boyfriend is a pipe fitter at Amels, so it’s special to build something that he will then finish.”
"It’s great to see the students develop and find their niche at the yard.” Cees van Cadsand
Michael Uijleman, 20, is in his second year of training as a construction worker.
“It’s hard work, but I like it. It’s nice to build something from nothing. I get to help more and more and have already prepared things and done some jobs like stitching and grinding. We learn how to put things together and what tricks there are to do it right. It’s nice that we don’t only work inside, but also outside. And we work among beautiful ships and nice colleagues.”
Martyllo Henriquez (18) is a first-year construction worker.
“I like the fact that there are so many different things to do that you never spend too much time doing the same thing. I’m starting to get a better idea of how things work at the yard. When I was looking for an apprenticeship, I could choose between Damen Naval, Shiprepair and Yachting. This appealed to me the most and I think I have chosen the right one out of the three. We’ve learned to read drawings and we’re doing a lot of practical work.”