Damen Yachting reports a growing trend among superyacht owners who return to their original build yard for refits and maintenance. The company’s facilities in Vlissingen have developed into a global centre for ambitious yacht transformations, combining technical expertise, craftsmanship and long-term client relationships.
“That so many of our fleet choose to return to us for refit work speaks volumes,” says Graeme Pollock, Fleet Support Engineer at Damen Yachting. “We provide a unique service that goes beyond warranty or refit. We are always happy to assist our clients with small or large jobs. Our shipyard will always be a place they can call home.”
Examples include the Amels 242 “Avanti”, delivered in 2022 and currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at Vlissingen, and the Amels 242 “Synthesis”, delivered in 2021, which has returned for a five-year service, technical upgrades and a full exterior respray.
“Our owner recognises that it is in the best interest of the yacht to bring her back here, as Damen Yachting has in-depth technical understanding of superyacht systems and craftsmanship. We know that the same people of the Amels team who built the yacht are still here; this knowledge is invaluable for a refit,” says Ollie Lewis, Captain of “Synthesis”.
The Vlissingen refit facility offers extensive dry docks and quayside areas, including one of Northern Europe’s largest covered docks, allowing year-round work. Damen Yachting also operates a second shipyard with direct sea access, combining world-class infrastructure with attractive conditions for visiting crews.
“A refit has the ability to completely transform a yacht, bringing an owner’s new vision to life,” adds Michel Coens, Head of Refit & Services at Damen Yachting. “Whether it’s an Amels yacht returning home or a yacht from another builder, we apply decades of in-house engineering and craftsmanship to every project.”
Among the recent examples is “Moonstone”, which returned for a six-week stopover after an extensive 26-month rebuild including a seven-metre hull extension. Though not originally an Amels build, she now carries the Amels Refit pedigree.
According to Damen Yachting, refitting adds value and extends a yacht’s lifespan, offering a sustainable alternative to newbuilds. The shipyard’s in-house team of naval architects, engineers and project managers ensures precise execution, transparent communication and adherence to schedule – factors that continue to draw owners back to Vlissingen.
