Holland Marine Equipment Association

The Holland Marine Equipment Association was established in 1986 by 15 Dutch companies that were active as maritime suppliers on the export market. At the time, the association’s sole mission was to represent export interests.

Five years later, the association cautiously started undertaking non-export related activities such as government contacts and joint branch interests, and developed a structure of commissions and work groups.

In 1993 the Holland Marine Equipment Association merged with branch association VLMA (Dutch Association of Suppliers of Maritime Equipment and Services), which gave it its current legal form and the name Holland Marine Equipment. The goal of the organisation was simultaneously expanded to that of a normal branch association. Chairman at that time was Steef van Vliet.

In 1997 HME, now with 40 members, became part of the umbrella organisation FME-CWM, the largest organisation in the Netherlands representing employers and businesses in the technological industry. This marked the start of a period of rapid growth and professionalization of the organisation. Under the management of current Director Martin Bloem, the association expanded to include 100 members within three years. The Chairman was Gerard Speld.

The connection with FME-CWM and VNSI was severed in mid-2000 and an individual organisation was established in Rotterdam. The association continued to grow both in members and activities, with the fields of export, innovation and knowledge transfer being developed in a dynamic way. Pim van Gulpen became Chairman.

In 2003 the association opened a Chinese office, the Holland Marine House China. Due to the nature of its activities the facilities in Shanghai became part of a separate foundation.

The export and knowledge related activities of the association were accommodated in a separate company in 2006, called Holland Marine Projects BV. The joint organisation expanded to 15 people. The number of members of the branch association had grown to 225 companies by late 2007.

A new chapter was added to the history of the association on 1 January 2008 when it joined forces with the VNSI. The new organisation was called the Holland Shipbuilding Association, with its head office in Zoetermeer and part of the FME-CWM branch organisation.

By 2011 the association had over 270 members and international offices in China, Vietnam, Brazil and Russia. Corporate services are provided by HME BV (formerly Holland Marine Projects BV) from Rotterdam, while the branch interests are represented by the Holland Shipbuilding Association in Zoetermeer.