Shipyards New owner for RSR Holland’s Rotterdam Ship Repair (RSR) is a 24/7/365 service and repair company to ships and ships engines in port or under voyage - the company slogan is ‘excellence in ship and engine’. RSR has been in operation since some 10 years ago and the original founder, Leo Baks, will retire in January 2020, his shares taken over by Jan Kees Pilaar (JKP) who aims to advance the company further and strive for growth. JKP has long history in shiprepair - employed by Thyssen Krupp (Greece’s Hellenic Shipyards and Hamburg’s Blohm and Voss), and with Holland’s Damen Shiprepair & Conversion acting as its Managing Director. JKP was originally with Holland’s Verolms Botlek, now part of the Damen Shipyards Group. RSR has a layby berth/repair quay in Rotterdam Waalhaven, measuring some 135 m with available draft of 6.5 m. Alongside this berth are an office, a well-equipped steel/ construction workshop and mechanical shop. Walking distance from these facilities to the berth is 20 m hence no (walking) time lost when going on/off-board, ensuring that the vessel is back on course as soon as possible. When this berth is tied up RSR can organise an alternative berth, partner companies willing to provide such facilities. Repairs or services are not only provided in Rotterdam - RSR has a global out-reach, for engineers it is not an issue to sail with the vessel at sea. All work is completed in a cost- effective, quick and flexible way and obviously according all relevant Class and Regulatory requirements. Project management is available, from preparation to planning and co-ordination, up to implementation stage. Examples of this can be seen when RSR recently carried out a project in La Rochelle (France) and when sailing with a vessel from Australia to Gibraltar and overhauling all three auxiliary diesel engines. RSR’s engineering teams are dynamic and experienced to know how the clients are the main focus, and with the passionate commitment in combination with traditional values. RSR guarantees maximum results in port or when sailing, that means on a world-wide basis. Typical repair projects carried out by RSR include bow and stern thruster service, stevedore damage repairs, contact damages (steel repairs from bow to stern above the waterline), rudder and steering machine repairs, winch servicing
Work on a ship’s bow section alongside in Rotterdam
and hydraulic and electrical service. Engine works is brand independent - from a Bukh 2 cylinder engine up to 90 MC MAN units. Recently a team from RSR went on-board to change unit on a 70 MC MAN unit. A team also recently overhauled and overhauled a MAN 32/40 unit on a voyage from Antwerp to Tangier. The majority of engine repair/ overhaul projects involve Wartsila, MAK and MAN engines, the majority being 4 stroke units. However, some projects have been carried out on 2 stroke units. Some interesting projects recently carried out, in many cases RSR has solved Port State Control issues for vessels arrested or Owners’ requirements. • On a floating welding school – RSR prefabricated and installed an elevator shaft in the cargo holds on-board the Bore Shipping’s 18,205 gt ro/ro vessel Estraden for Finland’s NorsePower. The steel pipe column inside the rotor sail tower was built by RSR in its construction shop. Prior to installation RSR did the onshore testing and commissioning at its own quay. This system reduces consumption and emission by some 6 %. RSR has also carried out maintenance operations on this plant. • RSR is often asked to assist in changing overboard valves for scrubber systems. With our partner diver company these overboard valves are blinded off and changed out. The piping
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system is then renewed/adjusted thus avoiding the necessity to drydock the vessel. • Along with a partner company, RSR completes cast iron welding, e.g. cylinder heads of main engines. These are just some non-standard projects in comparison with regular repair/overhaul work, clearly indicating RSR’s overall capability and flexibility. According to Jan Kees Pilaar, “I made my entrepreneurial dream come true with the takeover of RSR. I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur - to own my own business - it always beckoned. And now, in my final phase of my maritime career, that dream has become a reality. As of November 1st, 2021, JKP (62) is the proud co-owner and Managing Director of RSR.” RSR focuses on shiprepair activities mainly in the ARA area. Under Pilaar’s leadership, the clientele is being expanded to include the rest of Europe and the world. This has already happened, but still to a limited extent. The occupancy in terms of projects is good at the moment. The 135 m-long shiprepair quay is full and in fact there are constantly about 10 to 15 projects running simultaneously in various stages. The team includes 29 permanent employees and on average some 12 or so flexible workers are hired in every week. In addition to the quay, the company has
