Alewijnse Marine and Damen Shipyards Curaçao have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering co-operation in shiprepair, shipbuilding and associated activities.
This MoU is primarily aimed at the cruise ship sector, as well as other ship types and covers activities at Damen Shiprepair Curaçao (DSCu).
The agreement was signed in the presence of the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of Curaçao, Eugene Rhuggenaath and Curaçao Minister of Economic Development, Steven Martina, during the Bon Bini for Business Summit in Curaçao on 21st January, 2019.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) and Alewijnse Marine have a long standing relationship, as Alewijnse already contributes its specialist electrical integration and automation skills for shipbuilding, repair and conversions at Damen yards, including Vietnam, Qatar and France, as well as the Netherlands. DSC now aims to bring the electrical services at the recently acquired DSCu up to a similar standard and so is looking to extend its co-operation with Alewijnse on a similar basis.
“The MoU between Damen Shiprepair Curaçao and Alewijnse is an important step towards full co-operation,” said Alewijnse International Business Development Manager, Dumitru Poperesniuc. “The final agreement will strengthen the shiprepair and conversion options available to shipowners and operators in the Caribbean and we would be glad to hear this contributes to the positive impact that DSCu will have on the economic development of the region.”
DSCu is strategically located on the route to the Panama Canal, outside the hurricane belt. The yard features two graving docks; the larger, measuring 280 x 45 m, is one of the biggest in the Caribbean. The other is 193 x 26 m and there is almost 2 km of quay space.
In April, 2018 two floating dry docks, one of which is Panamax size measuring 230 x 45 m, were delivered from the Netherlands.
Alewijnse will investigate potential commercial and technical co-operation between DSCu’s electrical department and the company’s project management, with the aim of having an active role in the project processes at the yard. Alewijnse will also offer technological expertise locally in the development, adaptation, production, delivery, installation and commissioning of a variety of marine electro-technical and automation solutions, as well as radio-navigation systems, the company said.
