Dutch Industry Report Deel 2 20-04-2007 10:19 Pagina 60 COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS BENEFIT FULL-SERVICE YARDS 2 Dutch Industry Momentum, part two High quality standards at super yacht yards in the Netherlands have led to well-filled order books. Sourcing from rich Dutch maritime history and an overwhelming number of skilled yacht designers in this small country, all possible designs, construction methods and materials and services are delivered. Dedication to all aspects of yachting life and the cumulative experience of centuries that is present the yards, make it possible to excel in building motor yachts, sailing yachts and performing refits all on the same working floor. Complementary skills from all these aspects of the yachting market improve refinement of design, construction and finish.the all-round knowledge at yards leads to better boats. HSB International Monthly presents an overview of capacities, projects and plans of twelve leading Dutch yards in four parts.this month Bloemsma & van Breemen Shipyard, Jongert and Vitters. Coming up next months: Moonen, Heesen, Hakvoort, Feadship (Koninklijke De Vries and Royal Van Lent), Dutch Yacht Builders and Oceanco. Last month's edition of HSB International featured Royal Huisman Shipyard, Holland Jachtbouw and Amels text: Hans Buitelaar Bloemsma Van Breemen Shipyard Profile Bloemsma Shipyard of Makkum, founded in 1974, has been one of the pioneers in aluminium yacht construction. Customised hulls in both this new material in the1970 s and in steel were built and finished at the yard. Experience with aluminium also led to orders from other yards, that had hulls and superstructures built at Bloemsma. As Nico van Breemen revived the yard in 1997, the focus of the experienced workforce became more on building complete full custom yachts. Aluminium work for other yards is offered on a subcontractor basis, but practised not so often as before. Quickly after the yard s name changed into Bloemsma & van Breemen Shipyard, the sizes of yachts ordered increased. Both motor yachts and sailing yachts come from the yard, the numbers of yachts from these two categories are equal. Both power and sail yachts from Bloemsma & van Breemen have won awards. The yard has constructed six classic Hoek Design sailing yachts, including the 80 foot (24 meter) Mulligan and 74 foot (22 meter) Copihue. The biggest motoryacht of the yard is the 2005-launched 158 foot (48 meter) Reymond Langton designed Flying Eagle. For both the designer and the yard, the project of building this yacht was a big step forward. Reymond Langton design studio saw the build of its largest designed yacht, while the yard entered the mega yacht market, now building yachts well over 100 feet in length. The classic canoe-sterned motor yacht Griffioen, a design by Willem de Vries 60 HSB INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2007
Dutch Industry Report Deel 2 20-04-2007 10:19 Pagina 61 Lentsch that was launched early 2006, has generated lots of publicity and has strengthened the yards reputation worldwide. Ninety percent of the yachting market consists of motor yachts, Nico van Breemen notices. For a yard like ours, it is not wise to focus solely on sailing yachts. It is hard to predict tendencies in the superyacht market, so we strive to be able to deliver all kinds of yachts and services. Of course, the Netherlands have a great reputation in building sailing superyachts and we are the biggest country in the world in this market. Therefore, we can attract customers for sailing yachts as well as power yachts. Working with different naval architects, interior designers and subcontractors is complementary to the philosophy of being active in all segments of the market. We do not want to be known for one specific kind of yacht, we want to be known by the quality of our yachts. Projects Two major projects fill the production halls at Bloemsma Van Breemen until the spring of 2009. The construction of a 43,5 (143 ft.) meter long motor yacht, designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder has just begun. The information is restricted about specifications of this yacht, apart from the length and the name of the designer, the only known facts about this vessel are the hull material, steel, and the superstructure material, aluminium. From a profile drawing at the yards website can be concluded that it will be a full displacement yacht. The second project is Valquest, a 40,75 meter (134 ft.) Dubois designed sailing yacht. This sloop-rigged yacht is designed to be a real performance cruiser, with its relative wide beam of 8.9 meter, its deep keel of 4.15 meter and its relative light displacement of 190 tons. This yacht is equipped to meet the highest standards in the technical fittings aboard sailing yachts. Powered by an extensive hydraulic driving system, the yacht will be featuring 38 hydraulic functions, including winches, anchor capstan and garage door at the stern. Both Valquest and the Pieter Beeldsnijder motoryacht are set for delivery in 2009. Plans Since 2000, the yard s capacity has been extended with two new building halls. They offer the capacity to build yachts of up to 65 metres in length. Today, the total yard area is 20.000 m 2, including 5700 m 2 of construction sheds. The latest technology and indoor environmental techniques are deployed to ensure a high level of building quality. The construction halls have heated floors. The yard has become known as Bloemsma & van Breemen, but will make a subtle change to Bloemsma Van Breemen. A new company logo and refreshed website will be presented, marketing specialists at the yard are working on it now to present the new style this summer. The new logo is just a new graphic appearance, Marjan van Breemen assures, nothing will change in the yard s activities. As the capacity has recently grown, the order books are full and the level of complexity is growing with each launch, Bloemsma Van Breemen will consolidate their instant reputation as respected megayacht yard in the coming years. Information: www.bloemsma-vanbreemen.nl HSB INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2007 61
Dutch Industry Report Deel 2 20-04-2007 10:19 Pagina 62 Vitters Profile In the relative short history of its existence, Vitters Shipyard has built a respectable portfolio, featuring yachts in a wide variety of styles, dimensions and in different niches of the market. The yard has worked with a lot of different naval architects, among which are the legendary Sparkman & Stephens, the skilled Ed Dubois, Dutch designers André Hoek, René van der Velden and Vripack Yacht Designers as well as contemporary artist of clean lines Luca Brenta. Founded in 1990, Vitters has already launched 15 sailing yachts and five motor yachts, between 55 and 180 feet (16,8 to 55 meter). The 1995-launched Cavo d Oro is a carbonfibre poweryacht, styled like a speedboat. Jules Verne, a launch of the year 2000, is a classic-styled displacement cruising motor yacht. Darndanella of 1998 is a true explorer vessel. Award winning Adèle of 2005 is a cruising sailing yacht, designed to explore the waters at high latitudes under sail. Also award-winning sailing yacht Ghost is named an ocean runner, a high performance yacht that still has all desired luxury aboard. The latest launch of Vitters is Mystère, a 43- meter Tripp Design. All aspects of the art of building super yachts have been practised in the seventeen years of Vitters activity. The yard strives to learn from each project and improve at each new build. This goal is achieved by stimulating yard engineers and craftsmen to generate their own input as much as possible. Professionals that have the opportunity to do just the kind of work they really like, will develop to be highly motivated specialists. This accumulated learning process of the yard and its people makes every new Vitters yacht an even better one. Every new project is completely different from the previous one. The yard claims sailing yachts are the core business, but will not reject orders for motor yachts. Even on the highest levels in the yacht building market, improvement is possible, the yard claims on their website. 62 HSB INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2007
Dutch Industry Report Deel 2 20-04-2007 10:19 Pagina 63 Projects Under construction for launch this year is Nirvana, a 53.5 meter (176 foot) Duboisdesigned flybridge ketch. The yacht of aluminium hull and superstructure has remarkable shallow draft of only 3 meters (9 feet). This can be achieved thanks to the righting moment that is created by a wide beam, a full-bodied underwater profile and a high ballast ratio. A pivoting centreboard, shaped as a high aspect ratio foil, will improve upwind performance in deeper waters, increasing draft to ten meters. The shallow draft was a special wish of the owner, that wants tot explore remote coasts and get at anchor at shallow shores. The design was thoroughly tank tested to optimise it for these conditions and still have good sailing performance. At present in the production halls of Vitters is also Boreas, a 52.5 meter (174 foot) classic sloop by Hoek Design. The tall rig on this lengthy one-masted yacht will be equipped with PBO standing rigging, quite exceptional for a rig of these dimensions. This piece of engineering will save 2,5 tonnes of rig weight on the yacht, creating more stability and hull stiffness. The appearance of both exterior and interior is classic. The finish is in mahogany. The helm and rig controls are in the centre cockpit, more abaft is a separate owners deck area and deckhouse, opening to a private entrance into the owners suite. Despite its classic appearance, Boreas is expected to perform quite good. Deck layout and sailing equip-ment is optimised for regatta sailing. André Hoek has quite a reputation for designing performance classics. Also set for launch in 2008 is the 39 meter (128 foot) sailing yacht Sunshine, a Bill Tripp design. Until well into 2009, Vitters will be working towards the delivery of another Dubois-designed sailing yacht, a 44 meter (146 foot) of yet unknown name or design details. Plans The production halls at Vitters are suited for yachts up to 70 meters. The workforce of 60 at the yard are ready to make use of the full capacity. Allthough sailing yachts are core business at Vitters, they are ready to build lightweight high performance power yachts. The yachts incorporate all the modern features one might expect, such as lightweight construction, stiffness and high-tech monitoring, as well as the latest control systems. They all comply with the rules of classification societies like NMA, MCA and Lloyds, as well as the latest safety rules. As yachts evolve in size and complexity, customers demands increase in terms of fitted equipment and overall finish. Meeting these ever higher standards is an ongoing challenge that the yard wants to face as a team. The ultimate goal at Vitters is to keep on learning and improve their ability to build yachts in all segments of the yachting world. Information: www.vitters.com HSB INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2007 63
Dutch Industry Report Deel 2 20-04-2007 10:19 Pagina 64 Jongert Profile The Jongert history is a story of Dutch water sports in a nutshell. Jan Jongert senior was a successful speed skater. Excelling in this popular sport in the Netherlands, he became a local hero. He invested his prize money in raising a metal workshop. The first contract, that marked the start of Jongert company was signed in 1953. From building small craft, the yard moved on to building its first 10 meter motor yacht in 1958. In the period between 1964 and 1975 a generation of Dutch yachtsmen grew up knowing Jongert as the constructor of the popular Trewes and Zwalker yachts. It was the second generation of Jongert that launched the family name as a brand name for quality cruising sailing yachts. Building these yachts in ever growing sizes, the name of Jongert stands for luxury super yachts in the third millennium. In 2003, the new production halls at Waterpark Wieringermeer got into full operation. Refined yachts such as Scorpione dei Mare, a 29 meter modern styled sailing yacht and 24 meter Charisma Nova, are examples of the care for each detail the yard delivers. Çharisma Nova of 2006 was the first launch in a series of semi-custom modern styled motor yachts in the 2400 M series. Most recent launch is Ithaca, a 27 meter modern styled sailing yacht. Besides building full-custom yachts, Jongert offers yachts in various styles as semi-custom designs. Yachts from 30 to 42 meters in the T-line have clipper-bowed hulls and spacious deckhouses. T stands for traditional in this concept. A full range of yachts, varying in length from 20 to 34 meters is offered in the M-line, which stands for modern. The bows are more vertical, the stern is designed to provide maximum waterline length to improve sailing performance. The yard is also known for special technical solutions, such as the folding keel, that dramatically reduces draft when slowly motoring or under anchor, but does not take away all the interior space like a lifting keel would. The accompanying telescopic rudder to reduce draft is also a Jongert innovation. Projects At Boot Düsseldorf, the German show in January this year, mood was high at the Jongert booth. In the first weeks of 2007, the yard signed contracts on the construction of three new yachts. Among them another project in the semi-custom series sailing yachts 2400 M, succeeding Çharisma Nova. This 64 HSB INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2007
Dutch Industry Report Deel 2 20-04-2007 10:19 Pagina 65 project is set for delivery as early as the first half of 2008. With new motor yacht designs of the Jongert style and brand, the yard has successfully entered the market of power yachts. The yard has come with two semi custom designs by Guido de Groot Design: the Jongert 2900MY and the Jongert 35MY, stretching respectively 29 and 35 meters. Jongert has the capacity to build more than two large yachts at the same time, though, a maximum of six yachts can be built simultaneously. Now in the halls is Icarus, a sister ship of the newly launched Ithaca, materialising the 2700M series with her. Launch of the sixth 27 meter sailing yacht is set for summer 2007. A new root in Jongert s range is the 2000M, a 20 meter yacht. Owners that want to sail shorthanded, not needing a crew to navigate their own yacht, will be attracted by this fast aluminium yacht. A first order for this yacht of Doug Peterson design is to be delivered by 2009. Plans Known for its high quality of cruising sailing yachts, Jongert wants to prove their capabilities of building fast yachts as well. The motoryachts the yard has presented are capable of full-planing speeds up to 28 knots. Also the sailing yachts will be further optimised for high speeds. The yard has appointed highly experienced yacht designer Hans Körner of renown Van de Stadt Design to share his knowledge with the design team, save weight in the design stadium and look for optimised dimensioning to improve stability and performance. Results of this performance-driven design approach will manifest on the 2008-launched 2400M and also on the new 2000M. Neighbouring the Jongert yard, a whole new marina is being built: Suydersee Marina. This is to be the most luxurious marina of the Netherlands, providing berths for yachts of 12 meters and up. Golfcarts and taxiboats transport owners and crews to their yachts from the indoor garage, a spa and indoor swimming pool will be part of the marina s services. For a super yacht yard, having an exclusive big-yacht marina next door is a good opportunity to build relations with their clientele. Waterpark Wieringermeer will evolve into a yachting hotspot. Jongerts broader servicing of the market, including motor yachts and performance sailing yachts from 20 meters up, next to the already existing ranges of modern styled and traditionally styled sloops and schooners, together with new liveliness in its direct surroundings, creates hopes for future prosperity. Information: www.jongert.com HSB INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2007 65