Rene Berkvens

During the past 36 years René H. Berkvens has held many different positions in the Damen Shipyards Group. This period was preceded by a marketing consultancy function in the USA. He holds a degree in Naval Architecture form the polytechnic of Dordrecht (in the meantime located in Rotterdam). His thesis focused on the development of a SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull vessel) as a passenger ferry.

At Damen Shipyards, René H. Berkvens started his career in the Sales Department for Africa. Extensive travel brought him to West Africa and later North Africa. Major projects were developed in amongst others Angola. Subsequently he became Area Director for the Americas. Apart from leading the sales and marketing team, Berkvens focussed his efforts on the set-up of a successful joint-venture in Cuba and the opening for Damen, of the Brazilian Market which turned out to be the beginning of a long lasting relationship with tug and OSV owners as well as the Brazilian Navy.

From 1998 – 2000 René H. Berkvens managed the largest subsidiary of the Damen Group that is dedicated to the construction of workboats and security craft.

In 2000 the Damen Group took over Royal Schelde, the premier naval yard in the Netherlands which had been owned previously by the Dutch Government. An intensive turn around program was developed for this lossmaking activity, and the export market was penetrated to compensate for the reduction in domestic newbuilding programs. Since its induction into the Damen Group, Naval shipbuilding has been a net contributor.

In the period 2004-2006 as vice president of the Damen Group, René H. Berkvens was responsible for the Naval division and the mega yacht building activity under the AMELS brand name.

From 2006 onwards he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Damen Group and overall responsible for its operation. During this period Damen doubled its turnover and acquired 15 companies in shiprepair, newbuilding and engineering.

René H. Berkvens has been active in many boards, trade associations and research activities.

He is married and has three children.