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In Vlissingen-Oost work has started on the steelwork for the 75-metre-long Yacht Support Vessel YN 478. Damen Naval is building the hull of the yacht on behalf of Damen Yachting. On 24 December the first steel was cut on the brand-new Messer plasma cutting machine and in January the metal workers could start assembling the first parts. “This is a very cool project,” says production coordinator Stan Haag enthusiastically. “This work gives us our right to exist as a shipyard and I think I speak for everyone in ‘Oost’ when I say that we are very happy to be able to get started. It really is a collaboration between the Damen companies in Vlissingen.”
It is the first time that Damen Naval is building a complete hull for Damen Yachting. Stan: “Of course, we worked on the extension of the Here Comes the Sun and that planted the seed for the fruitful cooperation we have entered into with this project. Because it has been relatively quiet in Vlissingen-Oost in recent years, the YN 478 project is a good way to get the production process going again. It allows us to get warmed up for future assignments.”
Damen Naval is building the hull of the 75-metre-long Yacht Support Vessel YN 478 on behalf of Damen Yachting.
Despite the obvious differences, there are also similarities between building a frigate and a yacht support vessel. “In a number of ways, this is the same kind of work. It is still a ship,” says Stan. “What is different is our customer. This is a different type of customer than the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is easier to make modifications to the ship’s design. It was initially 72 metres, but the customer wanted it longer, so it has now been adjusted to 75 metres.”
"All the steel for the first section has now been cut, and when the steel for the second section is ready, we will start working on that straight away. In the peak, we will be building eight sections at a time." Stan Haag
Another important difference is that the engineering is not done in-house by Damen Naval. “Here we are used to doing our own design with our own engineering department,” Stan explains. “Now we are a subcontractor of Damen Yachting and the whole ship is being drawn up by Damen Engineering Gdańsk in Poland and we get the drawings when they are ready. That makes the whole process a bit different from what we are used to.”
In January, the metal workers started assembling the first parts.
On 10 December, the first drawings arrived from Poland and since then it has been full steam ahead. While hard work is being carried out to assemble the first section, the steel for the second and subsequent sections is already being cut. “It’s like a train, a dance where we all do the choreography,” Stan explains. “All the steel for the first section has now been cut, and when the steel for the second section is ready, we will start working on that straight away. In the peak, we will be building eight sections at a time. My job is to coordinate that dance and make sure everything is delivered on time.”
In addition to the steel construction, Damen Naval is also responsible for the piping and some of the outfitting work, for example installing the engines, air conditioning units and switchboards. If everything goes according to schedule, the hull will be handed over to Damen Yachting on 14 December 2022 for further outfitting. The entire project will be carried out in Vlissingen-Oost; the preparations and smaller construction work in Hall 1 and the section construction and outfitting in Hall 2.
Stan Haag (left) counts himself lucky to be working with experienced colleagues such as Ronald de Baar (middle) and Hans Walhout.
“I am proud of what we have achieved in this short time. All the starting points went well, despite the short preparation time, we are right on schedule,” concludes Stan. “I count myself lucky that I can work with such experienced colleagues. Hans Walhout, project coordinator for the work preparation, and Ronald de Baar, hull construction coordinator, are invaluable to me. Without the help, knowledge, and skills of my colleagues, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this.”