Staying on course, together

Some milestones are simply too special to let go unnoticed. And this is definitely one of them! Our colleague Gerhard Venema is celebrating an incredible 40 years at DEKC Maritime! 🥳 Four decades of shaping ships, perfecting lines and making sure every curve is just right. As a Fairing Engineer, Gerhard knows his craft inside out. And that's an understatement! He works with dedication, precision and above all: pure craftsmanship! Gerhard, congratulations on this fantastic milestone! We're incredibly proud to have you on board! 👏 Cheers to 40 years! 🥂

We’re lucky to get along just as well outside working hours as we do in the office. 😉 Some colleagues head to the pub together, while others prefer to challenge each other through sports. With a team running event coming up soon, we thought our running skills could use a little extra attention. So we organised a running clinic with Wout Schaart from Loophart. On a sunny evening in Groningen’s Stadspark, we worked on our technique, pace and, of course, put in a few kilometres together. The interval tag game at the end was especially fun. Our jobs may require plenty of focus and concentration, but luckily, we haven’t lost our playful side. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

This week, we welcomed student association Studievereniging Navigo Ergo Sum "Sv NES". No fewer than 40 first- and second-year Maritime Engineering students from NHL Stenden Hogeschool joined us: our future maritime colleagues, business partners and clients.   Rick Brinkman kicked off with the strength of series shipbuilding at Shipyard Ferus Smit - Improvement as tradition: building efficiently through continuous optimisation, followed by an introduction to Groot Ship Design and their expertise in designing efficient and well-considered cargo vessels. Theodoor de Jonge then explained how DEKC Maritime translates complex maritime challenges into smart, practical engineering solutions.   After a tasty lunch, we headed out to the shipyard together. There is nothing quite like seeing the shipbuilding process up close and getting a tour on board the Arklow Dale.   Martin de Roosz then shared the craftsmanship behind the hatch covers and cranes of Coops & Nieborg. We ended the afternoon with an interactive session. Menno Beenes and Arthur Schout from FerroIT B.V. showed how the latest digital developments in shipbuilding can be made instantly visible and immersive in 3D and VR. With a well-written prompt, the students could immediately start experimenting themselves. And what did they come up with? A beer bar on board, of course. 🍻😉

We recently became a sponsor of Waterskiclub Paterswoldsemeer WSCP in Groningen. Our connection with the club comes through our IT Manager Jan Willem de Vries, who has been involved with WSCP for many years.   We like to support local clubs and associations that are connected to the interests of our colleagues. In this case, that means a contribution to a club where sport, fun and time on the water come together. We are already looking forward to getting our own colleagues on waterskis during one of our next company outings. Jan Willem will probably enjoy that just as much from behind the wheel of the boat, making sure his colleagues do not get too easy a ride 😉 For now, we wish everyone at WSCP a great season and plenty of enjoyable days on the water.