Read about our news, views, and observations in the world of
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An impressive yard! You can't say that Damen doesn't lack ambition. Cant wait to see, and write about, the vessels and other projects that come out of it.As Damen takes operational control of Damen Shipyards Mangalia, we join Managing Director Chris Groninger for a closer look at the group’s plans for the future. magazine.damen.com/editors-choice/putting-mangalia-on-the-map/
The way the British government mishandled the translation of critical Brexit papers into the other EU languages is deeply embarrassing for many of us in the UK who are already ashamed of our lack of language education but had hoped that our own government could at least have done a decent job of such an important exercise. London is of all places full of native speakers of all the various languages - it really shouldn't have been that difficult.
We do a lot of 'text-washing' for mainland European clients, and it is interesting that it is those that already speak / write the best English are the ones most keen to get their press releases and articles tuned so that they are 100%. Perhaps it is because, as in all things, the more you know of a subject (and a language), the more aware you are of the gaps in your knowledge. This latest debacle only serves to demonstrate how little the UK understands or values anyone else's languages, which is hugely depressing. Will our government learn something from this episode and put more emphasis on language teaching at schools? It seems doubtful, based on past form. Figures show that since the Brexit vote two years ago the proportion of school children learning a second language has fallen even further.
Brexit translation gaffe shows deeper cluelessness
ft.com
Government’s white paper jarred with native speakers of some other EU languagesI didn't know about this until now. Fascinating story... I've always been a big admirer of 'Pioneering Spirit'. It's not a thing of beauty, but you can't help but be impressed by the engineering...
The ship tycoon, the €100m scam and an epic battle for justice
ft.com
When fraudsters embarked on an elaborate sting, they made one big miscalculation: their victimThe 2018 edition of the Damen Shipyards Group year book can now be downloaded from bit.ly/2sWDLAa. We had the pleasure of researching and writing a number of the articles included in this glossy, 100 pages + exploration of maritime innovation. If you can get hold of a hard copy, it's an enjoyable read and looks good on any coffee table.
Just three weeks to Seawork 2018. One of our favourite shows, not least because it is a short drive away in Southampton, but also because the sun (almost) always shines and it is full of interesting products and vessels. We have a number of clients exhibiting, and if anyone else out there needs some last minute assistance with press and marketing materials, give us a call! (The pictures / video are from 2017)
Alewijnse Marine is holding an open day in the Netherlands at the end of June to introduce school-age children to maritime electrical engineering and the career opportunities it presents. It's part of a wider initiative in their region to encourage kids who enjoy technology and hands-on problem-solving to get a taste of the sector. It's a great idea! There should be more of it going on...
bit.ly/2LSNKxs
There's been plenty going on at Walcon Marine over the past month. Four weeks ago we announced their acquisition of Docking Solutions, which extends their pontoon range further into the workboat / commercial sector bit.ly/2lcT3wF. Not long after, MD James Walters celebrated 25 years at the company and reflected on how much both the industry and the company had evolved over that time bit.ly/2MuDtZx. This morning we issued an announcement on the progress of the redesign / refurbishment at Ocean Village in Southampton, UK. bit.ly/2MsnJX7. It's all go!
Shows that presentation CAN make a big difference. For good and bad...
Walcon Marine has won the contract to supply a complete marina package of walkways, finger pontoons and access bridge to the Jebel Ali Resort in Dubai, UAE. The new marina will replace a previous 35-year old facility at the same location.
The new facility is comprised of a main walkway 119 metres in length with three piers coming off it; ranging in length from 50 to 62 metres. 30 finger pontoons of varying specifications will deliver berths for 60 boats up to 15 metres long, while three longer pontoons plus a 46-metre stretch of open walkway will provide berthing for larger yachts.
Walcon’s System 2000 pontoons will be used throughout. Their aluminium structures provide excellent resistance to the high levels of corrosion that can occur as a result of the tropical climate of Dubai combined with the high levels of salinity found in the Arabian Gulf. The units will be manufactured by long-standing Walcon partner DBB Contracting LLC, which will also undertake the removal of the old pontoons together with the piling. A team from Walcon will undertake the installation, with assistance from DBB. The works are expected to begin in the early summer.
Walcon Marine has a long history of working in the Middle East and has had the pleasure of working on previous projects with the Jebel Ali Resort. In 2011 it designed and built a floating facility to host a fuel dock and a special berth to accommodate a floating restaurant together with all the necessary utilities and facilities.
