Latest news with #DamenShipyards
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: TNPA unveils $6.7mln multi-purpose vessel for Cape Town port
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has unveiled a new locally built multi-purpose vessel valued at R120 million, marking a major milestone in its ongoing Marine Fleet Renewal Programme. The new vessel, named Yarona, was officially christened during a ceremony at Damen Shipyards Cape Town on Monday. Designed to enhance port maintenance, environmental management and operational capacity at the Port of Cape Town, Yarona is set to bolster TNPA's marine services and pollution control operations. Multi-functional vessel for port operations Built by Damen Shipyards Cape Town, the 19.05m vessel features an all-welded steel hull and superstructure for durability in harsh harbour conditions. It has been purpose-built to perform maintenance dredging, remove debris, assist with quay wall repairs, support oil spill response, and carry out fender replacements and lighthouse maintenance. "Our ability to deliver this vessel is a testament to our mission of building vessels in Africa for Africa. It underscores our commitment to localisation and supplier development, while contributing to job creation and skills development in the local maritime sector," said Sefale Montsi, director at Damen Shipyards Cape Town. Infrastructure-led growth Speaking at the christening, Transnet Group chief operating officer, Solly Letsoalo, said the investment forms part of Transnet's broader infrastructure-led growth strategy. "At the heart of our Reinvent for Growth Strategy is infrastructure-led growth and a commitment to reliable and efficient operations across our operations. As Transnet, we remain focused on modernising our fleet and ensuring fit-for-purpose infrastructure to meet the needs of our customers and the broader South African economy," Letsoalo said. The name Yarona, meaning 'Ours' in Setswana, was chosen by a TNPA employee through an internal naming competition. Job creation and local impact The project created around 18 job opportunities during its 14-month construction period, with a strong focus on involving individuals from previously disadvantaged communities, including youth and women. Once operational, Yarona will employ three new TNPA crew members in addition to two existing crew from the previous vessel it replaces. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Border Force supplier prosecuted over Russian sanctions claims
A Ministry of Defence and Border Force supplier is being prosecuted for alleged bribery, forgery and money laundering and pursued over claims it violated sanctions. Damen Shipyards, which has supplied boats used by the UK government to test military technology, monitor Britain's borders and pick up migrants in the Channel, is being prosecuted in the Netherlands over criminal allegations related to its international sales. The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting the shipmaker and certain former directors following an eight-year bribery investigation. It also accused Damen of 'violating sanctions measures imposed in response to the war between Russia and Ukraine'. Four of the Border Force's fleet of five patrol boats, or cutters, were made by Damen, according to an official record. The cutters detect prohibited
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dutch probe largest shipyard on corruption, sanctions charges
THE HAGUE: Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had brought criminal charges against the country's largest shipbuilder, including in relation to breaking sanctions against Russia. Based in Gorinchem near the port of Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards is being probed for bribery, forgery and money laundering, the Public Prosecutions Service (OM) said. 'This occurred in connection with the sale of ships abroad. In addition, the OM also summoned Damen for violating the Sanctions Act,' it said. The second summons 'relates to violating sanctions imposed in response to the war between Russia and Ukraine', the OM added. Prosecutors brought two separate cases against Damen -- the first into the alleged bribery in the sale of ships between 2006 and 2017. The second was for selling goods and technology 'that could contribute to the military and technological strengthening of Russia' after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The first probe focused on alleged large commissions paid to agents used for selling ships to various countries in Africa, Asia and South America. 'Over a number of years, a large number of false documents have probably been drawn up in order to conceal the high commission payments to agents and to frustrate control of it, including in applications for export credit insurance,' the OM said. In the second probe, Damen allegedly continued deliver goods and technology to Russia despite European Union sanctions against Moscow. This investigation focused on the second half of 2022. Damen responded by saying the OM's first probe 'mainly concerns suspicions of forgery, no longer mainly corruption'. 'Damen has assessed the file and concludes that the Public Prosecution Service does not have a feasible case,' it said. '(The company) has always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages and... full transparency has been exercised about its activities,' Damen added. 'The sanctions probe was a case involving the supply of a very limited number of civilian cranes to Russia. This delivery took place within the sanctions legislation in force at the time,' it said. The company, which employs some 12,000 people and operates in 120 countries, said it 'foresees a long legal battle'. Damen is the main shipbuilder for the Dutch navy, including its frigates, combat support ships and offshore patrol vessels. The case is likely to start later this year with a court date still needed to be set.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dutch Shipbuilder Damen Faces Criminal Charges Over Sanctions
THE HAGUE: Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had brought criminal charges against the country's largest shipbuilder, including in relation to breaking sanctions against Russia. Based in Gorinchem near the port of Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards is being probed for bribery, forgery and money laundering, the Public Prosecutions Service (OM) said. 'This occurred in connection with the sale of ships abroad. In addition, the OM also summoned Damen for violating the Sanctions Act,' it said. The second summons 'relates to violating sanctions imposed in response to the war between Russia and Ukraine', the OM added. Prosecutors brought two separate cases against Damen -- the first into the alleged bribery in the sale of ships between 2006 and 2017. The second was for selling goods and technology 'that could contribute to the military and technological strengthening of Russia' after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The first probe focused on alleged large commissions paid to agents used for selling ships to various countries in Africa, Asia and South America. 'Over a number of years, a large number of false documents have probably been drawn up in order to conceal the high commission payments to agents and to frustrate control of it, including in applications for export credit insurance,' the OM said. In the second probe, Damen allegedly continued deliver goods and technology to Russia despite European Union sanctions against Moscow. This investigation focused on the second half of 2022. Damen responded by saying the OM's first probe 'mainly concerns suspicions of forgery, no longer mainly corruption'. 'Damen has assessed the file and concludes that the Public Prosecution Service does not have a feasible case,' it said. '(The company) has always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages and... full transparency has been exercised about its activities,' Damen added. 'The sanctions probe was a case involving the supply of a very limited number of civilian cranes to Russia. This delivery took place within the sanctions legislation in force at the time,' it said. The company, which employs some 12,000 people and operates in 120 countries, said it 'foresees a long legal battle'. Damen is the main shipbuilder for the Dutch navy, including its frigates, combat support ships and offshore patrol vessels. The case is likely to start later this year with a court date still needed to be set.
Reuters
25-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Prosecutors accuse Dutch shipbuilder Damen of corruption, violating sanctions
AMSTERDAM, April 25 (Reuters) - Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had summoned shipbuilder Damen Shipyards on suspicion of violating EU sanctions against Russia and opened a separate case against the company and some of its executives for corruption. The company denied both sets of accusations. On the sanctions case, it said it had "always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages" and was "surprised that one case from June 2022 is now being submitted to the court". On the corruption charges, it said it was "confident in the lawsuit, and finally gets the chance to explain the suspicions of the public prosecution service are incorrect". The inquiry on a possible violation of the Sanctions Act was led by the Dutch customs and focused on goods and technology that could have strengthened the Russian military, based on actions in 2022, prosecutors said in a statement. In the corruption case, Damen and some of its executives would be prosecuted for suspected bribery, forgery and money laundering when ships were sold abroad over a period running from 2006 to January 2017. In October 2023, Damen sued the Dutch government over damages it said it had suffered due to European sanctions against Russia. Family-owned Damen, which employs 12,000 people, is expected to win a large share of the Dutch government's multi-billion euro plans to replace nearly its entire navy fleet in the coming 15 years.
