Damen Yachting has announced Kommer Damen’s receipt of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dutch Maritime Awards Gala in Rotterdam on 7 November. Kommer Damen’s father and uncle started building boats in a shed next to the family home in the Dutch town of Hardinxveld-Giessendam and established Damen Shipyards in 1927. In 1969 Kommer bought the shipyard from his family members. He had a vision: his idea was to produce vessels in series for stock. In this way, vessel operators would have rapid access to proven technology.
This philosophy revolutionized shipbuilding. Building on its success, Damen Shipyards Group went global. Today, the group operates 35 newbuild and repair yards, as well as numerous maritime equipment suppliers, and employs 12,000 people all around the world.
In 1991, the Damen Shipyards Group entered the world of yacht building with the acquisition of Amels. Here, Kommer Damen’s vision was once again applied, with custom yachts being built on proven platforms. It was this approach that led to Amels’ Limited Editions becoming one of the superyacht industry’s greatest success stories.
Today, Kommer Damen maintains an active role in the family business, serving as group chairman. His son, Arnout Damen, is CEO of Damen Shipyards Group. Daughter Annelies sits on the company’s board as a non-executive, while son Bear combines his career as a film director with being an active shareholder. Daughter Rose heads up Damen Yachting. The Damen Shipyards Group remains 100% family-owned.
This latest award adds to others gained over a lifetime of committed service to the maritime industry, including the Seawork Lifetime Achievement Award and the royal Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.
Credits: Damen Yachting