Royal Bodewes has been building efficient and high quality vessels for well over 200 years. We are proud of our rich history and the progress we have made. From the wooden shipbuilder that we were in 1812 to the innovative and sustainable shipbuilder that we are today.
The shipyard produces wooden barges and coastal vessels in Martenshoek, the Netherlands..
This leads to the construction of motorised barges and coastal vessels. Sailing vessels and steamships are build.
The first fully powered (without sails) coastal vessels are build.
The Netherlands become involved in the Second World War. German occupiers take over the shipyard.
HRH Prince Bernhard, husband of Queen Juliana, visits the shipyard.
A new construction hall is built. The business operates its own shipping company with an average fleet of five vessels.
A contract is signed to build two multi-purpose ro-ro vessels, the very first of its kind.
Bodewes and UAL arrive at a partnership for building and operating Eco Trader 8700 vessels. Nescos Shipping B.V. is founded for this purpose.
A royal designation is received by Bodewes at the celebration of its 200th jubilee. Bodewes Shipyards changes its name to Royal Bodewes.
A new production hall is built. This is another huge step forward for the yards’ efficiency and capacity.
Royal Bodewes builds the world’s first newly built hybrid self-discharger MV Aasfjell.
The Polynesian Navigation Company concludes an agreement with Royal Bodewes for the construction of a new ro-ro cargo vessel.
The company introduces ironclad and, later, steel clad vessels.
The company is expanded by the purchase of a shipyard in Hasselt, the Netherlands by new director Hendrik Bodewes.
Due to the Wall Street Crash, the two shipyards are separated. The former main location goes bankrupt, but makes a recovery.
During the launch of the Rian, the vessel capsizes and an employee tragically loses his life.
Senior Director Herman Bodewes dies. His four sons take over the business.
The shipyard management no longer has family members to serve as successors. Management is transferred to non-family members.
Management changes hands to Jan Smit and Harmannus Wilhelmus Bodewes: the family is back at the helm of the company. Herman Bodewes becomes Director of Bodewes and takes over management of the yard.
To meet demand, hull builders in Ukraine, China, India and Poland and construction companies in Romania are subcontracted.
The canal is widened and the construction hall is extended. An identical hall is built next to it.
Once again, Royal Bodewes proves to be innovative. In its portfolio by then, are: LNG Flexitanker ‘Coralius’, eco-coasters and cement tankers.
The quay is extended, enabling the yard to build ships up to 120 m in length or two smaller vessels simultaneously.
Shipowner U-Ming orders a cement carrier with a length of 115 meters. It’s the first Asian order ever for Bodewes.
Royal Bodewes is able to build up to six vessels a year as a result of innovations of the past years.
Royal Bodewes turns ideas into high quality products. In close consultation with our clients we build the most efficient, economical vessels in the world. Find out more about our unique building process.
Shipping is a very sustainable method of logistics due to its efficient mode of transport. Because ships often last 20-25 years, in practice many ships sail with outdated techniques. With climate change becoming an increasingly important issue, Royal Bodewes – in anticipation of regulations that may come into force in the future – designs and builds highly environmentally friendly ships on the condition that these sustainable measures hardly increase the operating costs of the ships.
