Damen Cruise inks first contract with SeaDream Yacht Club
Damen Shipyards Group has announced the recent signing of a contract with Oslo, Norway-based SeaDream Yacht Club. The contract marks a historic moment, being Damen’s first for a cruise ship. SeaDream will operate the 155-metre Mega Yacht on luxury voyages all over the world.
SVP Sales and Marketing Damen Cruise Andrea Trevisan said, “We are delighted to sign this historic contract with which the Damen Shipyards Group enters the cruise market. We feel very honoured that SeaDream has chosen Damen to deliver this special project and are looking forward to a long-term cooperation with this unique ultra-luxury brand.
”There has been an immediate connection with Seadream, a family company like Damen. We felt inspired by the company’s philosophy and by Mr. Atle Brynestad, a pioneer in the luxury cruise industry. His passion throughout the design and contractual stage of this project has been simply contagious to all of us within the Damen organisation.”
The Mega Yacht, a purpose-built ship, will be prepared to operate in destinations, including polar and tropical, around the world. As such, the vessel will boast ice class Polar Code 6 credentials.“
“We were drawn to Damen Shipyards for their excellent reputation and proven track record as innovators in the shipbuilding industry,” said Atle Brynestad, Owner, Chairman and CEO of SeaDream. “Damen Shipyards understood our vision from the very beginning, making them a natural fit for this venture. We are looking forward to working closely with the Damen team to bring this dream to reality.”
The international shipyards group launched its new venture, Damen Cruise, in 2018. Though a new entrant to this particular market, Damen has, for over 90 years, delivered ships to diverse sectors of the maritime industry, including construction of adventure and mega yachts and complex offshore, naval and RoPax vessels.
The aim of Damen Cruise is to become a long-term partner for the cruise industry, providing services throughout the entire lifecycle of a vessel. This begins, where required, with provision of finance solutions from AAA institutions and continues through construction and outfitting. Following delivery, Damen is able to continue supporting its clients with maintenance, repair and upgrade services at its repair yards worldwide.
In 2018, Damen began operational control of the shipyard now known as Damen Shipyards Mangalia, in Romania, a joint venture with the Romanian Government. The yard, located on the Black Sea, is the largest in the Damen portfolio and brings with it the capabilities for the group to construct larger, more complex vessels.
The Mega Yacht for SeaDream will be completely constructed and outfitted, including the interior, at the Mangalia yard by Damen, working in partnership with leading suppliers to the cruise industry. Damen will commence construction of the vessel in October this year, with a scheduled delivery date of September 2021.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers around 175 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, winches, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of eighteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating (and covered) drydocks, including the longest, 420 x 80 metres, and the widest, 405 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,300 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyage.
About Damen Cruise
Damen Cruise represents a comprehensive, full lifecycle proposition, supporting the sustainable global growth of the cruise industry. Damen Cruise strives to support the success of its partners with a long-term, sustainable view and a suite of products and services that ranges from the newbuilding of ocean, coastal and river cruise vessels to globally distributed maintenance and upgrade services.
