Marimecs and Maritime Professionals join MP Group

Netherlands based Maritime Projects develops and manages shipbuilding projects for ship owners, brokers and shipyards. In Marimecs the company now finds a strong sister company for naval architecture, design and engineering services in the field of luxury superyachts and commercial vessels. In addition Maritime Professionals now offers resource management and staffing solutions to the Dutch and international maritime industry. All three businesses will be brought together under the MP Group.

These latest acquisitions bring three core functions under one MP Group umbrella;

    • Project management and Owner’s Representatives (Maritime Projects)

    • Design and Naval Architecture. Concept development and detail engineering (Marimecs)

    • Resource management and staffing solutions (Maritime Professionals)

Taking over the helm at Marimecs

Willem Stolk, former director of Marimecs, is preparing to retire. Louwerens Hoving and Erik van Prooijen have taken over the helm with their MP Group. The company will continue her operation independently from her sister-companies in this group.

In 35 years, Willem Stolk´s team has grown to a broadly functioning full service office, allowing him to gradually step down as a director. Willem will continue to support the new owners to ensure a smooth transition to the new management. About the transition he remarked: “Both the team and myself are very excited about this well-found match. We already knew Maritime Projects´ work and it is pleasing to see the work continue with an owner who not only complements our line of work so closely, but also shares the no-nonsense approach and thought-through services that the Marimecs team values”.

Willem continues with a word of gratitude: ”I will still be available at Marimecs the coming period, but it is going to be quite a step to say goodbye to a company that my wife Tiny and I have been so involved with in all these years. We have built life-long relationships within our own team as well as within the industry as a whole. We are grateful for that and hope to keep in touch, having more time on our hands on the near future.”

Erik van Prooijen of Maritime Projects added: “Much like Marimecs, we have always taken pride in our full range of services and distinct experience in complex or particularly unique projects. Our teams complement each other perfectly in terms of in-house knowledge and skills. With Marimecs, we continue to distinguish ourselves with broad experience in high-end shipbuilding and practicality in our thinking. Having in-house naval architecture, design and engineering services readily available makes us an even stronger partner for shipyards and owners if required.”

Mr van Prooijen further points out, “Flexibility is key: Maritime Projects continues to be entirely independent in its operations and has good working relationships with companies and owners throughout the shipbuilding and design business. However, when it adds value to a project and meets a client’s demand, we can now even more quickly and thoroughly advise about complex design and engineering questions, and  deliver many more required services with a valuable sister company in Marimecs.”

Founding Maritime Professionals

With many clients requesting further involvement from members of the Maritime Projects team, it became clear that there was demand for more than external project management alone. Louwerens Hoving, one of the Partners from Maritime Projects says: “We strongly believe that we had to found a separate company that is fully dedicated to resource management and staffing solutions for management and engineering professionals in this industry”.

Bringing 20 years of experience in staffing solutions and 5 years within the maritime industry, Bas Lokhorst is the perfect man to lead this company. As the resource manager Bas will be the first point of contact for customers and candidates. Bas commented, “In this time when staff is extremely hard to find and to keep, it is of the essence to have a 100% focus on staffing solutions. With Maritime Professionals we now have established a division where this can and will be realised.”

Recent projects

Marimecs has recently delivered a number of passengers vessel projects with sustainable hybrid or fully electric propulsion systems, such as the new SFK ferries in Kiel. Other recent projects include commercial vessels for NIOZ and Dutch Rijkswaterstaat, as well as a highly customised 21m sailing catamaran and a number of private superyacht conversion projects.

Maritime Projects recently commenced project management for a large motor yacht by Royal Huisman, and delivered a full project team for the project management of a superyacht at Feadship. Other recent projects are our project management services to assist Vanquish Superyachts during the development and build of their 80-115ft  yachts (>50 knots) and the representation of a yacht-owner for a >70 metre motor yacht.