Damen laying off 228 at Mangalia shipyard in Romania

The decision is part of a reorganisation plan announced in July 2020, which also involved the loss of 642 jobs at Galati, Damen's second shipyard in Romania, the company said in a press release on Friday.

Also in the Netherlands, several hundred jobs were declared redundant. These reorganizations have already been implemented in Galati and the Netherlands, the company added.

In consultation with trade unions and authorities, a social plan will be developed that fully complies with the provisions of the collective labor agreement. Employees affected by the restructuring will receive up to nine compensatory salaries.

"The reorganization is necessary and will allow the possibility of recovery and adaptation to the current situation, so that the other hundreds of jobs are not affected," Damen Mangalia Shipyard general manager Chris Groninger said.

Romanian shipbuilding plays an essential role in the activity of the Damen group, and the Damen Mangalia and Damen Galati shipyards have a vital importance. This is underlined by the numerous investments we have made in both shipyards."

The reorganization of the business is a direct consequence of the need for Damen to adapt to the economic situation in the global maritime sectors, the company explained. Due to declining demand in the offshore sectors and increased competition from state-supported shipyards in Asia, shipbuilding and repair activities declined dramatically in 2020, with the decline exacerbated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, new shipbuilding orders in Europe fell by 64% in tonnage last year - compared to 2019, while in terms of value, orders saw a 40% annual drop, according to Damen.

Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 175 vessels annually to customers worldwide.