Royal Huisman expands facilities

Royal Huisman has recently announced that it will be expanding its capacity to include the Holland Jachtbouw facility in Amsterdam. We speak exclusively with Roemer Boogaard, managing director of Royal Huisman.…

Royal Huisman, the Dutch superyacht manufacturer, has recently announced that it will be expanding its capacity by including exclusive access to the Holland Jachtbouw (HJB) facility in Amsterdam to its offering. SuperyachtNews speaks with Roemer Boogaard, managing director of Royal Huisman, about the new facility and Huisman’s desire to expand and diversify.

“In the future we see strategic diversification,” starts Boogaard. “We will not only be focussing our efforts on the sailing yachts that we have become known for, we will be extending our range towards motoryachts up to 65m.”

The availability of the facility comes following the anticipated termination of the HJB business after the sad passing of HJB’s founder Chris Gongriep. “HJB will continue and finish its two ongoing projects,” explains Boogaard. “In the meantime, we (Royal Huisman) have access to the additional sheds.”

The 12,000sqm HJB facility boasts three state-of-the-art halls with a maximum length of 60m overlooking 120m of waterfront with open sea access. This facility will be available for Royal Huisman customers to commission new build and refit projects.

“Our strategy is to conduct all 60m-plus refits at our Emden facility, with 40-60m projects being placed across our facilities depending on the availability of space,” continues Boogaard. “In Vollenhove we will mainly concentrate on sailing yachts with the HJB facility focussing on smaller refits and motoryachts.”

When asked if Royal Huisman will be assimilating the HJB workforce, upon HJB closing as a business, Boogaard explains that, as yet, there are no plans in place to take on the HJB workforce as there is still HJB work to be completed. However, he does not discredit the idea that there may be room for assimilation in the future.

“Firstly, HJB needs to finish its work, after which there will be an available workforce,” he says. “We have told the personnel that, should they wish, they are free to deliver their CV’s to Royal Huisman. However, I must be clear that this is not an acquisition, we are renting the space at HJB.”

The next step, according to Boogaard, is to establish Royal Huisman as a force in the motoryacht market, transfer Royal Huisman’s good name in sailing into this new sector and attain its first new build contract for a motoryacht.