Dutch shipbuilding in 2010

Newbuilding of seagoing vessels

Thanks to well filled order books, relatively few cancellations, and successful resales, Dutch shipbuilders in 2010 have been able to maintain production at a good level. Deliveries from Dutch shipyards amounted to 141 seagoing ships, totalling nearly 600,000 CGT and representing a value  of over 2 billion euro. Production at foreign facilities belonging to Dutch large and smaller yard groups is seen to be increasing, and foreign affiliates of Dutch yards also turned out a very respectable production. Roughly 65% of the seagoing ships produced in The Netherlands are destined for export.

In terms of sales, 2010 was a year far better than 2009, when newbuild orders dropped more than 80% compared to the preceding year. In 2010, approximately 70 orders for new seagoing ships have been booked, totaling 300,000 CGT, almost double the intake noted in 2009. The order book, slowly  decreasing, at end of year 2010 contained orders for 178 seagoing ships, totalling approximately 900,000 CGT and a value of nearly 2.8 billion euro.

The availability of finance is crucial for the delivery of the ships still in the order book as well as for reviving order intake. Dutch yards and their national shipbuilding association have intensively talked about measures that could make finance available.

Other shipbuilding categories

Apart from yards focusing on the production of seagoing cargo vessels and NCCVs, The Netherlands is home to numerous yards producing specialized vessels.

Inland vessel builders often rely on the import of foreign hulls, which are outfitted to client’s wishes at national yards - this process involves a close cooperation with many specialised equipment suppliers. In 2010, 130 inland ships have been delivered, totalling nearly 270,000 GT. These included also a relatively large number of non cargo carrying vessels, ranging from dredgers to patrol ships or river cruise vessels.

Looking forward, Dutch builders of river cargo carrying vessel are facing an inland shipping market with a rather severe overcapacity in the short term. But, infrastructural and maritime policy will increasingly be favoring inland shipping as an environmentally more friendly way of transporting goods within the country and to the European ‘hinterland’, which means a healthy long term business outlook.

Dutch superyacht builders in 2010 delivered 30 vessels. The superyacht order book in The Netherlands is still at a healthy level, with 64 yachts worth over 2 billion euro scheduled to hit the water over the next few years.

Ship maintenance, repair and overhaul

Turnover in Dutch ship maintenance, repair and overhaul decreased compared to 2009, but, over all, profitability remained at healthy levels. Apart from regular maintenance and repair docking, Dutch maintenance, repair and overhaul yards also specialise in complex conversions, refits and overhauls of a wide variety of vessel types.

Equipment suppliers

Shipbuilding in The Netherlands is closely linked with approximately 750 companies supplying services and marine equipment to national and international yards and other maritime companies. Some of these companies are independent niche players, some are affiliated to the larger Dutch shipbuilding groups, others are subsidiaries of international companies. The majority of them are SME companies. Export accounts for approximately 65% of the turnover of Dutch suppliers.  

Employment and turnover in the total Dutch shipbuilding cluster

Employment in the total Dutch shipbuilding cluster amounted to nearly 33,000 full time jobs in 2010. The total production value of shipbuilders and suppliers combined was 7.2 billion euro.