Lifetime Achievement Award for Damen

The award was presented by Caroline Dinenage, local MP for Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head.

After working in the family boatbuilding business, Kommer Damen went on to set up his own enterprise, with just six workers, and introduced the modular shipbuilding concept for small boats and launches. This standardisation – the Damen Standard – gave shorter delivery times, reduced costs and produced proven designs.

Today, Damen Shipyards Group is a successful global enterprise with more than 6,000 employees and a presence in 35 countries and has built over 5,000 vessels. Damen now builds 40% of the world’s new tugs (stand A73).