During his visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Deputy General Director of the Balkan shipbuilding and ship repair plant held a number of fruitful meetings with representatives of the companies Royal IHC, De Klop B.V. and Damen Shipyards Group on cooperation in the construction of dredgers in Turkmenistan, as well as training of Turkmen specialists.

The Dutch company Royal IHC is a world leader in dredging and dredge construction. During a meeting with the company’s management, the Turkmen side expressed interest in using Royal IHC design documents for the construction of dredgers at the Balkan plant. The management of Royal IHC, in turn, enthusiastically supported this initiative and declared their readiness to work together. The parties agreed to develop technical and price proposals for the implementation of the project.

During a meeting with shareholders of De Klop B.V. - a leading manufacturer of dredgers and pumps - the Turkmen side expressed interest in the joint construction of dredgers, designing them taking into account the specifics of Turkmenistan, as well as conducting training on the repair of main equipment and mechanisms of dredgers at the Balkan plant. The parties agreed to develop technical and price proposals, exchange experience in the field of design and construction of dredgers, as well as organize training for Turkmen specialists. In addition to traditional dredgers, De Klop B.V. presented a project for an electric dredger. This decision may be especially relevant for Turkmenistan, given the low cost of electricity in the country. Shareholders of De Klop B.V. also expressed readiness not only for technical, but also for operational training for Turkmen specialists. This will improve their qualifications and skills in working with dredgers.

As part of negotiations with the management of Damen Shipyards Group, the parties discussed the prospects for the development of strategic cooperation. Damen Shipyards Group demonstrated new dredging technologies, particularly in soil crushing and soil removal. These technologies may be especially relevant for Turkmenistan, where there is an increase in dredging volumes. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to develop technical and price proposals.

The Turkmen side also held negotiations with representatives of Dredge Yard B.V. and Dredging Service Europe. Representatives of these companies expressed interest in participating in dredging work in the Caspian Sea, as well as in the inland waters of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the field of dredging, including the use of modern technologies and equipment.

Cooperation with Dutch companies will allow Turkmenistan to modernize its shipbuilding industry, improve the skills of specialists and improve the quality of dredging work, according to the website of the agency "Sea and River Routes of Turkmenistan".

We previously reported that the Shipyard in Turkmenistan is starting to assemble a dredger from a Dutch company.