Damen Continues to Forge Australian Connections

With an eye on maximizing local industry content and ensuring long-term Australian jobs, the aim of the visit was to strengthen business relationships borne out of the Damen Industry Briefings held earlier this year, the shipbuilder said. The delegation forms an integral part of Damen’s tender for the design and construction of 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Royal Australian Navy.

The Damen team comprises Damen CEO René Berkvens, Area Director Asia Pacific Roland Briene as well as Director Procurement Jacob Biemond. They have been joined by a number of Dutch companies and their Australian partners as they continue to build their relationships and seek to build the highest levels of Australian content for the new OPVs. Reflecting the geographical scope of the Australian government’s SEA 1180 Program – and the goal of maximizing Australian Industry participation – the Damen team is meeting with business representatives from all around the country this week. 

Among the companies and organizations with which Damen and ASD Forgacs Shipbuilding joint venture have laid the groundwork for collaborative partnerships with are companies from the Henderson Alliance, members of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN), Defence Teaming Cooperation and many other small and medium sized enterprises. 

The delegation is joined by some of Damen’s major suppliers who are establishing partnerships with Australian companies for the SEA 1180 Program. “These suppliers are part of Damen’s global supply chain. The opportunity for Australian companies to join this network is a very promising and realistic one,” Biemond said.

“The SEA 1180 Program has the potential to establish the framework for long-term naval and commercial shipbuilding capacity in Australia. An enthusiastic and effective supply chain is the best way ahead to reduce the risks involved – in terms of both construction schedule and technical coverage.”

“In total we met with about 50 companies. All companies that we have been in contact with since the Industry briefings we did in February. During these days we further established the relationships and agreements have been made. A prime example of this is the forming of a joint venture between our electrical contractor Alewijnse and their Australian partner AMS. AMS is already lined up to work on the sustainment of the Damen fleet in Australia.” 

The Damen delegation follows the Industry Briefings that the company conducted in February and March in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Aimed at making contact with local suppliers to develop a sustainable Australian supply chain, the Briefings were attended by approximately 800 people.

“We have received so much positive feedback about the Industry Briefings that we held earlier this year,” Berkvens said. “We wanted this delegation to pick up where the Briefings left off – turning the business connections that we made back in the Australian summer into fully fledged professional relationships. To this end, nothing substitutes meeting people face-to-face.”

“The SEA 1180 Program will require strong partnerships – and this is what Damen offers. For us, this delegation has been the next logical step in the process of ensuring that we cut the first steel and commence construction with the maximum possible Australian content.”