IHC Merwede President Appointed as SEA Europe Chairman (Belgium)

The European Ships and Maritime Equipment Association (SEA Europe) has announced that IHC Merwede’s President, Govert Hamers, will succeed Lars Gorvell-Dahll as Chairman in October 2013.

Mr Gorvell-Dahll’s will step down midway through his tenure to become the Managing Director of the maritime arm of the Federation of Norwegian Industries.

SEA Europe was jointly founded in Brussels last year by European shipbuilders, ship repairers and maritime suppliers. The Association brings together the Community of European Shipyards Associations (CESA) and the European Marine Equipment Council (EMEC). It represents an industry that generates more than €72 billion in annual turnover and offers employment in high-profile jobs to more than 500.000 European workers.

The SEA Europe membership base consists of almost 100% of the European shipbuilding industry across 18 nations. This encompasses the production, maintenance, repair and conversion of all types – commercial as well as naval – of ships and floating structures, including the full supply chain with the various producers of maritime systems, equipment material and services.

The broad scope of the Association is perfectly suited to Mr Hamers’ vast experience in the maritime industry. He has played a leading role in helping to secure IHC Merwede’s current position as the global market leader for efficient dredging and mining vessels and equipment, and a reliable supplier of innovative ships and supplies for offshore construction.

In addition, the current matters facing IHC Merwede are also representative of the topical issues being held under review by SEA Europe for its European and international policy strategy against challenging, yet cautiously optimistic economic conditions. These include challenges associated with the long-term financing of new ships, implementation of new environmental legislation and research development and innovation.

“I am delighted and feel privileged to have been appointed to this key maritime industry position with SEA Europe,” says Mr Hamers. “I believe that this decision is also in recognition of IHC Merwede’s achievements as ‘the technology innovator’ in the dredging, mining and offshore markets. In particular, the Association shares one of our strategic priorities to focus on product and process development.”

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Press Release, July 5, 2013