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Damen Shipyards Galaţi
Since joining the Damen Shipyards Group in 1999, Damen Shipyards Galaţi has developed into a highly efficient production yard with significant output. The expertise and closely managed supply chain have been behind some of Damen’s most important deliveries to date, fully representing the group’s diverse product portfolio.
Drawing on a rich tradition
Established in 1893 as Fernic Shipyard Galaţi,
the shipyard grew to become an important part of the country’s shipbuilding industry through
125 years geopolitical upheaval. Already in
1907, four river monitors were commissioned for the Romanian Navy, after being assembled in Galaţi. The first newbuilding, a ferry of 80-100 tonnes, was delivered in 1912. During and up to the Second World War, the yard was the most important Romanian shipyard, followed by the one at Constanța and finally the ones at Severin and Brăila. With a strategic significance for the region during this time, Galaţi shipyard built two submarines and one minelayer and convoy escort. The minelayer and convoy escort NMS Amiral Murgescu was the first sea-going warship built
in Romania and the largest and most modern warship of the Royal Romanian Navy of that time.
By the end of 1970 Galaţi Shipyard had built hundreds of vessels including barges, tankers, cargo vessels, bulk carriers, tugs and fishing vessels. After 1975 the shipyard achieved the most
technologically advanced projects for that time, including seven drilling rig platforms which are still in operation.
Cooperation with Damen Shipyards Group – by then already well established in the Netherlands and starting to develop its international business – started in 1994 with the subcontracting of
cargo vessel hull fabrication. In 1999, Damen acquired the yard and introduced its standardised shipbuilding approach. This involved inviting its trusted co-makers to expand the yard’s outfitting capacity. As a result, many Dutch businesses established their own branches in Galaţi, underpinning the local supplier cluster as well as strengthening the ties between the Romanian and Dutch shipbuilding industries. More than 400 vessels have been built by the Romanian-Dutch shipbuilding cluster of Galaţi since 1999.
Investing in the workforce
On-time delivery of vessels, while maintaining the group’s high quality standards, depends on production efficiency and a skilled workforce. The yard employs thousands of shipbuilders and local subcontractors, and has developed an efficient logistics supply chain.
Under Damen’s ownership, more than 100 Million EUR have been invested in the shipyard. With a new assembly hall of 120 metres for accommodating vessels indoors, new aluminium
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