Originally established as an entity within Damen Shipyards Group back in 2015, Damen Green Solutions has become an accelerator of sustainable development.
“Damen is a hugely entrepreneurial company with a strong familial mindset and a belief that sustainability will ensure a future for the next generation,” explained Managing Director Marcel Onink. “The entity Damen Green Solutions was born from that conviction and has worked hard to develop the best products to help steer the industry in the right direction.”
When IMO implemented new legislation on the spread of invasive species, the company developed its first mobile ballast water container. Although the idea was initially
shelved, the concept would come back around several years later, in the form of a new innovative partnership.
Building a brand
“Through the mobile container concept, we would provide ports or service providers in ports with ballast water technology that acts as emergency support for nearby vessels,” explained Mr Onink. “Whether they have no or malfunctioning systems onboard, or their ballast water management certificates have expired, our solution would remove the has-
While the road to net zero may seem long, leading Green Solutions is doing everything possible Managing Director Marcel Onink laid out in-depth interview with Inside Marine.
,leading sustainable solutions expert Damen possible to help its customers along the way. out the latest developments, during an Marine. Report by Imogen Ward.
sle of having to leave port to expel the water. However, we quickly realised that our design was uneconomical, because it was just too expensive to produce and run.”
Despite the lack of progress with its own ballast water container, Damen was determined to see this concept to fruition. It was almost like fate, when the company crossed paths with another likeminded business that harboured similar ambitions.
Bawat, the ballast water management technology expert, had its own concept, which was just as quick to operate, but relied
on different, more economical technology to sterilise the water.
It was at Europort 2023 that the two brands announced their new joint venture.
And before long, the plans were finalised: Bawat would provide the technology and Damen would construct the containers.
This new system is known as the swiftest mobile treatment process in the industry and is designed to be chemical and filter-free – making it an environmentally responsible option.
So far, the companies have jointly built and installed two systems, one of which is based
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at the Port of Hamburg and has been recently involved in a big job in the northern part of Denmark, where it aided a vessel carrying a huge amount of ballast water.
“Now that the first systems are up and running, we will be taking over responsibility of the entire construction process,” said
Mr Onink. “These systems are the first of many, and we hope to produce hundreds of these containers in the near future.”
Getting an upgrade
Although the popularity of these new systems is growing, the true star of the show has to be Damen’s next generation
air lubrication systems (ALS). Of course, the concept of air lubrication is nothing new –the US Navy has developed ALS in the ‘50s.
However, unlike conventional ALS, which rely on air bubbles to improve drag, the next generation system features the globally patented Damen Air Cavity System (DACS).
“DACS was developed in partnership with Delft University of Technology and was put through various sea trials to ensure its effectiveness,” revealed Mr Onink.
“Unlike its bubble-based counterpart, this system is less energy intensive and offers a much greater friction reduction. As a result, the net savings are also significantly higher – with a fuel consumption reduction of up to 15 per cent, depending on the vessel shape.”
DACS works by creating air cushions that run along the length of the hull, which are then maintained by longitudinal skegs, to prevent air leakage. The entire system is easy to install and can be completed during a scheduled docking (either at a Damen yard, or at a yard chosen by the customer).
Although a masterpiece in its own right, there is still some scepticism surrounding this system, as it is so different from the first-generation bubble systems. However, Damen is determined to put that uncertainty to rest with the help of pilot projects.
“There is still some disbelief from the market when it comes to the effectiveness of air lubrication in general, due to the high energy input required for the bubbles,” commented Mr Onink. “That is why we are involved in pilot
DACS was developed in partnership with Delft University of Technology and was put through various sea trials to ensure its effectiveness
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projects, because we want to provide that iron clad validation.”
In order to prove the product’s validity, Damen Green Solutions has been using
Damen TRITON, a monitoring system provided by Damen Digital Solutions, that measures operational efficiency. The data gathered by Damen TRITON has been compiled into fuel consumption reports and independently verified and validated by RINA, one of the world’s leading classification societies.
Following on from the success of this development, Damen now has several upcoming installation projects planned for its next generation air lubrication system.
February 2025 will see the system installed on a large cruise vessel. The technology will also be used in a second project where it will work in collaboration with nine other systems to offer the largest possible fuel and energy savings.
“If these, projects are successful, then the owners have already indicated that we
can upgrade the remaining vessels in their fleets,” revealed Mr Onink. “So, the results of these projects are going to be an important step for the future success of these systems.”
New ways to save
Although the Air Cavity systems will remain a top priority within the company’s agenda, it is always on the lookout for new ways to make an impact. For this, the company is working with partners such as DexOil and Hempel, but Damen is always on the lookout for more products that support customers on their way to zero emissions sailing.
“We are really focused on the retrofit market, so these technological advancements could be key to ensuring our customers’ vessels are as efficient as possible,” said Mr Onink. “We are a partner in a project of
this nature, involving four second-hand vessels, to which we will apply a number of technological upgrades, to ensure they become as efficient as possible.
“Vessels larger than 5,000GT have been required to report their emissions since 2018, and they are placed on a scale from A to E accordingly, on the IMO CII index. Those labelled D or E need improvement. In Europe alone, there are around 8,000 vessels that fit into these categories. That’s a tremendous number of vessels that could benefit from the retrofit of energy saving technologies, and our systems could make a dent.”
New technologies are also always on the cards. According to Mr Onink, the company is actively considering advancements that work in harmony with its current capabilities.
Managing Director of Damen Green Solutions, Marcel Onink is an avid sailor with his family. And with a keen interest in technology and business, Marcel feels at home in the shipping industry to work on the implementation of decarbonisation projects. He also shares an interest in golf and kickboxing with some of his teammates, fostering closer working relationships and an active lifestyle.
With a PhD in metallurgy, Marcel began his career as a specialist in steel processing before advancing to Global Key Account Director in the supply of steel for battery casings for consumer and EV applications.
Having long standing experience working with business-to-business customers, Marcel was well-prepared to manage Damen Green Solutions. Marcel knows that true success comes from delivering products that not only meet quality standards, but also add value to operations. Trust is essential for fostering and maintaining long-term, effective business relationships.
As part of the larger Damen Shipyard Group, Damen Green Solutions is able to connect with many innovative companies from the maritime industry. Marcel is committed to finding more technologies that will assist customers on their journey to achieving zero emissions and engages in collaborative partnerships to achieve this.
Although Marcel’s experience at Damen Green Solutions has been short thus far, he is motivated by the support of the company to grow the business.
“From a shipbuilding perspective, we’re looking at the impact of new technologies, and if they have the potential to be huge, then we’re interested,” explained Mr Onink. “Wind assisted propulsion, for instance, is one of those examples that may have an impact. So, we are always on the lookout, and if we find solutions that synergise with our air lubrication, then we will add them to our portfolio.”
With a new year beginning, Damen is optimistic for what the future may bring. The company is determined – with the help of a great team and reliable supply chain – to grow and enhance its capabilities and is ready to offer its services out to anyone looking to improve their vessel CII Rating.
“Everything we do, is for the good of our customers: from our different outlook to our transparency regarding our products and how they can help,” said Mr Onink, in conclusion. “We have evolved from a business that only bought and installed other companies’ equipment, into a world-class sustainable solutions engineer.
“There’s a lot of companies out there that are focused on the fuels of the future, and they should, but what we are doing can make a difference today. The industry can’t afford to sit around and wait for the perfect solution, we need to start implementing the tools we have now; it’s the only feasible way we are going to make it to zero-emissions shipping.”
