Damen Shipyards Galati Wins Prestigious Award

Damen Shipyards Galati has been presented with the Dutch Romanian Business Award for its Corporate Social Responsibility plan, particularly the Group’s community investment initiatives. The Award was presented by Ben Jager of the Dutch Romanian Network to Peter de Kiewit, Damen Sales Manager for Romania at the PSV Eindhoven football club stadium. The jury presented the Award in recognition of Damen’s positive contribution to the social development of the region and the stimulating effect its activities have on the commercial relations between the Netherlands and Romania.

Mr de Kiewit commented: “Damen is delighted to have received this award, especially because it recognizes our efforts with both our employees and with the local community in Galati.” The most important criterion the award-winner had to fulfil is that it should carry out community investment in Romania: investments for the general public rather than for financial gain such as education, humanitarian aid etc. 

Damen Shipyards Galati’s initiatives include a recruitment and career development program for students from the Naval Architecture Faculty of “Dun?rea de Jos” Gala?i University and from vocational schools in the town. This program aims to get students prepared for a future profession in a shipyard and gives them access to material and human resources for career development.
 
Community initiatives
Another important part of investing in the future generation of shipbuilders is the company’s support for children and students attending the local, national and ‘World Robot Olympiad’, which is being organized by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Galati.

During the spring holiday, and via the “Saptamana Altfel” program, a week is dedicated to specific educational activities other than regular courses, whereby the shipyard organizes and hosts visits of large groups of children from different schools. This includes a presentation about the company and an outline of the main components of a ship, followed by a shipyard tour. Vessel launching ceremonies always prove particularly popular with the students!

As well as this, DSGa supports families in need and charities such as “Childheart/Inima de copil” and “Familia” and provides other community social services.
 
Investments
Damen Shipyards Group is believed to be the largest Dutch investor in Romania. In a five-year plan running through to 2016, the Dutch shipyard group is planning to invest a staggering €83 million.

In 2014 alone, Damen has invested €4.5 million. This has included two underwater, plasma-cutting machines, replacement cranes, new tools and equipment and internal transport development. As well as this, the company embarked on a three-year program to reduce energy consumption and it will be improving and replacing the power system at the Romanian shipyard in a five-year initiative. 

Additionally, three new painting halls are being built in a €6.5 million, three-year program. In the future a new covered hall will be constructed and the main crane, which has a capacity of 320 tonnes, will be upgraded. Damen will also invest in renewing the transport infrastructure. 

Becoming part of the Group in 1999, the Romanian shipyard, which is on the banks of the River Danube, is the largest of the 32 yards in the Damen Shipyards Group and it is one of the most state-of-the-art facilities.