Damen Shipyards Group Hosts DKF European Offset Conference

Damen Shipyards Group organized the highly anticipated annual DKF European Offset Conference at its headquarters in Gorinchem, Netherlands. This prestigious event gathered professionals, industry leaders, and government officials, all focused on defence procurement, industrial cooperation, and offset agreements to share insights on policy, best practices, and evolving requirements.

Cooperation in a Transformative Era

This year’s theme, From Resilience to Growth: Industrial Cooperation in a Changing World, underscores the growing strategic significance of industrial cooperation amid shifting geopolitical landscapes and the demand for robust, locally established supply chains.

Damen’s position as the host highlights the company’s commitment to industrial participation and local content. By fostering relationships with national governments, local industries, trade organizations, and knowledge institutes, Damen emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts.

The company adopts a holistic approach to industrial cooperation, intertwining procurement, engineering, design, construction, and lifecycle support.

Collective Aspirations

Bram Langeveld, Chief Commercial Officer at Damen, expressed, “We are thrilled to have hosted this year’s DKF Conference and looked forward to engaging with key stakeholders. The conference’s focus on the future resonates with our ambition to become the most sustainable shipbuilder, balancing minimal environmental impact with maximum socio-economic benefits through our projects and partnerships.”

“Industrial participation is integral to Damen’s operations, a principle we’ve upheld for many years. Through our offset programs and local construction initiatives facilitated by Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC), we are committed to advancing local industries and capabilities in tandem with our shipbuilding endeavors.”

Creating Lasting Impact

To date, Damen has engaged in over 1,500 projects that incorporate local industries and labor across more than 60 countries globally. These initiatives not only fulfill Damen’s industrial participation commitments but also help third parties meet their obligations, establishing sustainable industrial cooperation initiatives that yield enduring economic and industrial impacts.