#6 - A new era

Kommer Damen has reached retirement age and makes the difficult decision to take a step back in the company. He's finally able to spend more time on his great passion: sailing. So Kommer embarks on his new adventure: sailing around the world for the second time. By now, the company has grown to become one of the biggest shipbuilders in the world: 40% of all the tugs in the world are built by Damen. Kommer’s children have taken over and are now responsible for Damen Shipyards, or parts of it. Kommer Damen’s business philosophy still remains the starting point. What's it like for the children to continue such a formidable family business? How do they ensure that they respond to the constant changes in the world of shipbuilding? This episode covers the period between 2006 and 2023. Want to know more about this podcast? Check out podcast.damen.com ‘On Course’ is a Damen Shipyards podcast and is produced by audio agency Airborne.

Om Podcasten

How does a tiny company grow to become one of the worlds biggest shipbuilders? In On Course, we follow the unique history of Damen Shipyards Group. At one time the company was nothing more than a wooden shed on the banks of the Merwede River, run by a couple of handy young men. The company now has a global presence and builds virtually every conceivable model of ship.The key figure in this story is Kommer Damen. With his revolutionary vision and entrepreneurial spirit, he set up the company at a time when the world was changing rapidly: from the oil crisis in the 1970s to the fall of the Berlin Wall.In ‘On Course’, Kommer Damen talks extensively about the rich history of this family business for the first time. In addition, many others speak about Damen’s turbulent growth, but also about developments within the shipping industry and the global economy. ‘On Course’ is a 6-part podcast series; a special story about headwind and perseverance, about daring and doing.Liever luisteren in het Nederlands? Prefer to listen in Dutch? Please note that the original version of this show is Dutch and available under the name 'Op Koers'. Want to find out more? Check out podcast.damen.com‘On Course’ is a Damen Shipyards podcast and is produced by audio agency Airborne.