MYS 2022: Balk Shipyard Reveals Plans for Expansion

2022 has been an exciting year so far for Dutch shipbuilders Balk Shipyard. With a new merger announced at the start of the year with Chinese investment holding company, Zhongying International, Balk Shipyard is now in a stronger position to deliver its over 200 years of expertise.  

‘Today’s yachts are getting bigger and bigger and we have very nice plans to expose and do more in new build,’ said CCO Evan Kortmann, when asked about the yard’s strategic partnership, ‘the merger and investor helps us to realise those dreams.’

Offering state-of-the-art facilities with a number of services ranging from refit to rebuild, the CCO tells us how nothing would be possible without its craftsmen: ‘we are a very technical based company…our people really are our biggest asset.’

‘It's all about the people. Our slogan is all about you; you as a customer, you as a business relation but also you as an employee.’

A prime example of the meticulous work of the Dutch shipyard and its experienced employees is evidenced within its current workload. With four projects underway, Kortmann told us more about Balk’s current work on 49m Project LV, also known as Legacy V. Delivered in 1990 by Feadship, Balk has transformed the vessel to a 52m, alongside other modifications, with the expected delivery date this December.  

With plenty of projects on the go, the CCO announced a new expansion was on the cards, due to take place in the next three year: ‘all the regulations have been okayed to build a new yard. We will focus to have a new yard within 3 years when we can serve larger yachts and also have more yachts.’