Dutch Trade Delegation at Damen’s South African Shipyard

The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms Lilianne Ploumen, and a Dutch Trade Delegation visited Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) on Tuesday, July 8th 2014.

The goal was to get an impression of the way South African and Dutch companies and entrepreneurs are working together. In addition, the newly qualified pupils from DSCT’s in-house Apprentice Training Centre received their certificates from the minister. All qualified artisans, as they now are, are offered a job at Damen’s South African shipyard.

Minister Ploumen and the other guests were welcomed by Damen Shipyards Cape Town staff. The proceedings started with a tour of the DSCT yard which included a viewing of the ATD 2909 which is currently under construction for the South African Navy, a look at the impressive FCS 5009 Patrol Vessel and a viewing of ‘Shed 6’ which is currently being constructed and is due to be completed in September 2014. The addition of Shed 6 to DSCT’s collection of production halls will add 1280m² of invaluable production floor space to DSCT’s production portfolio.

VIP guests and staff gathered in the boardroom for a certificate ceremony that honoured 20 apprentices from the Damen Shipyards Cape Town Apprenticeship Training Centre, who have recently completed and passed their welding or boiler making trade tests.

DSCT’s Apprenticeship Training Centre is accredited by MerSETA (Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority) for both the Welding and Boilermaking trades. The Apprenticeship Training Centre invigorates the DSCT yard with new generations of practitioners of up to 15 new apprentices each year. In total there are 39 employees who have benefited from the Apprenticeship Training Centre, some of which have been apprentices and some are yet to qualify.

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) is part of the Damen Shipyards Group. DSCT builds offshore patrol vessels, dredgers, tugs, naval craft and platform supply vessels, especially for clients on the African continent.

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Press Release, July 10, 2014