24 Aug 2018

Read our article on Seaview magazine

The question of what makes a successful shipyard is an interesting one, and no doubt everyone will have a different answer. Based in Urk in the Netherlands, my company has been operating since 2003 with three divisions: shipbuilding, yachtbuilding and oceangoing transport. But the roots of Hartman Marine Group go back to 1775 and I am now the seventh-generation skipper-owner. So it is a topic that has been in my family for a long time.

Versatility is important, both for shipyards and for the ships they build. The many new environmental regulations that are coming into force means older vessels will either have to undergo major renovations – at high cost – or be scrapped at an earlier stage of their lifetime than previously anticipated. Ship designs must therefore be adapted to “future-proof” ships against new regulations. Innovation is key. Shipyards may also have to move fast to fulfil orders for new vessels, as it appears likely the market will soon face a shortage.

The ships themselves must also be versatile to cope with changing market demands. We specialise in designing and engineering multipurpose cargo vessels. Our Trader 18 Deo Volente design won the Dutch Ship of the Year Award for its innovative features. These allow it to achieve speeds of 18 knots, instead of the usual 12, with only a moderate increase in fuel consumption. Its speed – it is the fastest in the world in this class – along with its lifting capacity of up to 240 metric tonnes with a 24-metre outreach and a shallow draught, gives owners a unique combination of features that are unmatched even now. In addition, being below 3,000 GT keeps costs to a minimum.

It is this smart use of special combinations of features inside one type of vessel that sets shipyards apart from their competitors. We are always looking for advantages in clever combinations of specifications compared to normal vessels. Our other ships have extremely low fuel consumption at 11 knots, combined with a large amount of square metres for a vessel below 3,000 GT.  Built in 2017, MV Baltic has another interesting combination of features: a ro-ro carrier that can take heavy loads of up to 80 tonnes per axle, in combination with low fuel consumption and generous square meterage. These combinations of desirable features are the winning factor – not one aspect alone.

So versatility contributes to a successful shipyard. Quality and efficiency are also vital. Thanks in part to its long heritage, Dutch shipbuilding is highly efficient and geared towards quality. This means that the vessels we build can deliver higher return on investment in the long term compared to vessels built in cheaper countries. The proof is in the figures: despite being 10 to 20 percent more expensive than cheaper alternatives, our ships achieved positive results even during the lowest markets of 2009 to 2012.

Versatility, quality and efficiency. All three are important ingredients of a good shipyard. But to be really successful, well-designed ships and efficient shipbuilding processes need to be combined with three other things: a highly skilled crew, smart management and a charter operator who can handle these features. These are the main focuses of our oceangoing transport business, Global Seatrade.

My priorities in terms of our shipbuilding business are to develop new, versatile and innovative vessels that meet market demands and regulations both today and in the future. Over on the yachting side, we are working with RINA on the classification of a pleasure yacht and have always found their experts to be fast and professional in responding to any issues that arise.