Nevesbu celebrates 90th anniversary!

A dive into a remarkable history

Nevesbu was originally founded by four Dutch shipyards (the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, the Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde, and the Dok- en Werf Maatschappij Wilton-Feijenoord) along with the machine factory Werkspoor. The aim of its establishment was to design submarines and naval vessels for the Dutch Navy, and export this type of vessels to foreign navies. Although the history was at times turbulent due to World War II and various geopolitical tensions, we can say that this mission has been successful.

Nevesbu’s first submarine project was the design of the Sep and Orzel: two submarines for the Polish Navy. This order also involved a grain deal. The Netherlands supplied the submarines and, in return, had committed to purchasing grain products from Poland. This project marked the beginning of a rich history in designing submarines and naval vessels. Over the past 90 years, Nevesbu has worked on the designs of all Dutch submarines, a significant number of Dutch naval vessels, as well as submarines and naval vessels for navies in Europe, Asia, and South America. With this expertise, Nevesbu has secured a unique position within the maritime sector.

In recent decades, Nevesbu has expanded its activities  with the design and engineering of floating offshore energy vessels and structures. Examples include Floating Production Storage and Offloading units and tankers. Another example is the design of an innovative floating substation. This is a floating platform that can be installed far off the coast to convert energy generated by wind turbines into energy that can be transported to land. Nevesbu has obtained various patents for this floating substation concept.

A high degree of complexity

The vessels and structures designed by Nevesbu are characterised by a high degree of complexity and advanced technology. The types of missions they are deployed for, ranging from gathering intelligence to combating piracy and drug trafficking, to offshore energy generation, require them to meet very stringent requirements. This demands advanced solutions, with the highest degree of reliability and quality.

Setting course to the next 90 years of Nevesbu

Over the past years, Nevesbu has grown significantly as a company. With current market developments and a well-filled project portfolio, Bart van Rijssen, managing director of Nevesbu, looks to the future with confidence. “We are very proud of what Nevesbu has achieved in the past 90 years. It is inspiring to see how our colleagues dedicate themselves with enthusiasm to delivering high-quality solutions for our clients. We have managed to maintain and even expand our unique submarine expertise through international projects, enabling us to support the Dutch industry and the Royal Netherlands Navy in the maintenance and modernisation of submarines. While we were once called the best-kept secret in the maritime industry, we have built a strong international position. The coming years will bring interesting developments in both the defence and offshore energy sectors, and Nevesbu is well-positioned to play a significant role in these. I look forward to the next 90 years of Nevesbu!”