Feadship given go-ahead to start extension on its Makkum facility

Dutch shipyard Feadship has revealed that a new 166-metre (544-foot) hall is being worked on at its Makkum facility.

Following months of consultation with the local council, the yard was given the green light to extend the existing complex in Makkum.

The new hall will enable the team at Makkum to work on two large yachts simultaneously. As well as the new hall, the development will include new offices and workshops will be “strategically situated” between both halls.

The hall will also be equipped with a 140-metre dry dock (measuring 21.5 metres wide) to facilitate construction of yachts with wide beams.

Phase one of the extension project is due to be completed in November 2019.

Henk de Vries, Feadship’s director, described the development as “a considerable investment”.

“While the good Feadship order book is one reason for increasing capacity, as a family business we find it crucial to secure the future for generations to come,” he said.

Vries continued, “The community of Makkum has very close ties with this yard. The people who work at Feadship are our most valuable asset and many others are connected because their neighbours or children work here or they support our business in some way.”

The announcement comes after Feadship gave a construction update on its upcoming Amsterdam facility, which is due to open in May 2019.

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