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Competitiveness Strategy


kees_van_doorn1System integrator Alewijnse launched an initiative that entails cooperation with superyacht yards to lower production costs without loss of quality. The key to this programme is Alewijnse’s global network of subsidiary companies that allows it to offer skilled labour at competitive prices. The initiative will be headed by Kees van Doorn (picture left) in his new role of Business Development Manager Yachts.

An experienced member of the Alewijnse team, Kees will lead the drive to demonstrate to superyacht yards across Europe and beyond how they can provide comprehensive electrical installation packages staffed by skilled technicians from subsidiaries in Romania, Turkey, China and elsewhere, overseen by Alwijnse’s project managers. The combination of major savings on labour costs and assured quality has proven to be attractive to existing clients, and will now be made available to a wider market.

Kees and his team will also act as advisors to superyacht yards on the technological options available to their clients. Key markets in the immediate future will be Germany, Turkey and Italy, where reducing costs without compromising quality is a particular priority in the face of Asian competition, but Kees van Doorn sees potential for further growth, he comments: “With the increasing complexity of onboard electronics these individuals seek the reliability and peace of mind that comes with a first-class installation.”

That complexity has been one of the key factors in the rapid growth that Alewijnse has seen in demand for its services in recent years. “It’s been driven partly by the increase in the volume and variety of equipment that owners are specifying for their yachts,” continues Van Doorn, “but the real advance has been in automation. As the yachts get larger and the systems – particularly those associated with energy conservation and reclamation – more sophisticated, automation becomes a necessity for the yacht to operate effectively. Much of the technology is just too advanced for the average superyacht crewmember to maintain and, as on commercial and military vessels, the systems are now designed to manage themselves and be remotely configured and adjusted by qualified technicians.”