Damen Yichang Shipyard expands product portfolio, targets new markets

Damen Yichang announced that there will be an additional focus on high-tech vessel types, on top of its core production of cargo vessels up to 15,000 dwt.

“We’re looking at dredgers, pontoons and barges, LNG/LPG tankers and offshore support vessels, such as platform suppliers,” said Hans Voorneveld, executive director of Damen Shipyards Group.

The yard is already building a number of specialised pontoons, whilst plans for dredgers are now being finalised. Additionally, finalisation of plans for LPG tanker construction is expected soon.

The yard is also aiming to expand its geographical reach, where its cargo vessels have mainly aimed for the European marketplace. The wider product range will be going global.

“Already we are building pontoons for specialised projects in the Far East and Latin America, as well as for stock. The dredgers also have an international market,” Voorneveld said.

Current capacity at the yard is sufficient for Damen Yichang to simultaneously construct 10 pontoons along with two dredgers, LNG/LPG tankers or offshore support vessels.