Dutch transport minister presents maritime innovation award 2004

Imtech Marine & Offshore BV has won the Maritime Innovation Award 2004 for its ?UniMACS Blueline and the Dutch Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Karla Peijs, presented the award to Goof Hamers, director of the Rotterdam-based company. The winning product from Imtech is a highly simplified Digital Integrated Bridge, brought onto the market in 2003.

The system is intended for smaller and conventional craft, and offers the advantages of integrated information presentation, as well as being competitively priced in comparison with conventionally equipped bridges. In addition, onboard installation and maintenance are made easy by the system?s modular construction and pre-fabrication. As well as offering integrated information from radar, ECDIS and AIS, the system can be easily expanded to include modules such as VDR, engine room automation, loading computers, Decision Support Systems and CCTV.

Chairman Pim van Gulpen of trade association Holland Marine Equipment (HME), initiators of the Maritime Innovation Award, took the opportunity to draw the government?s attention to the need for long-term investment in knowledge. He pointed out the sector?s delight with the recently announced support for shipbuilding. “There is also the question of support for maritime innovation, however, and the government has yet to make an announcement on this long-term investment,” said Van Gulpen.

According to Peijs, the Netherlands can easily compete on the world market with its innovative products. “The maritime sector must differentiate itself from the global competition in innovative ways, through continuous renewal, it is possible to compete with products of excellent quality on the world markets.” She said.

In addition to the Maritime Innovation Award, the winners of the Design Competition for a Ballast-Free Ship (an initiative of the Dutch Maritime Network) were also announced. The first prize was presented to C. van der Nat and E. van Rietbergen of Bluewater Energy Services BV.