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Damen Shipyards Galati

In Galati there has always been shipping craftsmanship. Since the end of the 15th century, Galati had a lot of handicraftsmen who built boats in their own workshops. The history of the shipyard itself dates back to the year 1893, when it was established under the name "Santierul Naval Fernic Galati" (Fernic Shipyard Galati). Now Damen Shipyards Galati is a state-of-the-art yard with a diverse portfolio.

Since 1893 the Galati shipyard’s importance grew constantly; new investments took place and the overall Romanian group of shipbuilders expanded. The Institute of Naval Architecture brought a significant contribution to the shipyard’s progress. This institute was initially founded in Bucharest, but transferred to Galati as a result of town’s transformation into a Romanian shipbuilding pole. By the end of 1970, Galati Shipyard had built 477 vessels including barges, tankers, bulk carriers, tugs and fishing vessels. After 1975 the shipyard achieved the most technologically advanced projects for that time including the 7 drilling platforms which are currently still in operation.

In 1994, Damen started cooperating with Galati by subcontracting hulls of cargo vessels to the yard. This cooperation worked out very well and in 1999 the shipyard officially joined Damen Shipyards. An ambitious investment plan followed which mainly focused on the improvement of efficiency and on the working conditions. Damen Shipyards Galati was transformed into a modern and top quality shipyard with the capability of building a broad range of products. Our new portfolio means even more large investments and substantial skill improvements of our work force, subcontractors and management.

Since the merger with Damen Shipyards in 1999 until 2011, Damen Shipyards Galati has built over 270 vessels. On average the yard builds around 20 vessels a year. On-going product development is primarily driven by customer feedback and field experience.

Damen builds Offshore Patrol Vessels and Landing Platform Docks (LPD). The first are specifically developed for a wide variety of tasks in regions where there is low-level violence. The Damen Offshore Patrol Vessel is specifically developed for navies and coastguards for a wide variety of tasks in regions where there is low-level violence. This vessel is optimised to fulfil all duties including military security, military safety or humanitarian tasks. Flexible mission modules and modular manning concepts make anything possible. Flexible mission modules and modular manning concepts make anything possible.

Damen has two departments which offer vessels in the paramilitary market. One is Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS; designs and builds frigates, LPD's and the SIGMA series) and the other is a department of Damen's original main office: Damen Offshore & Patrol (which designs the Stan Patrol series, Fast crew suppliers and offshore patrol series). DSNS offers the designs of a higher military standard, while Offshore & Patrol offers vessels are based on civil ships and designed to a civilian standard.

The LPD is designed for strategic transport and amphibious operations. They carry battalions of troops and their vehicles, functions as a flight deck or a hangar and it can be deployed in disaster relief operations. The Damen Enforcer Class Landing Platform Dock is designed for strategic transport and amphibious operations. The LPD carries battalions of troops and their vehicles and functions as a flight deck or a hangar and it can be deployed in disaster relief operations. It is the joint forces command centre in all waters. Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding is known for its quality in both the naval and commercial sector. The Damen Joint Support Ship fulfils operational requirements for a robust multifunctional platform. It is especially designed for maritime support, strategic sealift and sea basing missions. It has flexible mission modules to support worldwide maritime operations.

Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Netherlands delivered the third Holland Class OPV, the Friesland to the Royal Netherlands Navy. The vessels are designed for operation in Europe as well as overseas with present planned deployment abroad to the Caribbean Sea. The ship class is designed for multi missions including drug smuggling, piracy and blockade duties. There are four 3,750 t displacement vessels in the class with LOA 354 ft (108 m), beam 52 ft (16 m) and draft 15 ft (4.6 m). The first two of class were built in Damen shipyards in Vlissingen, Netherlands with vessels three and four being built in Galati, Romania.