Annual report 20108.31 MB - Boskalis

Operational performanceand cooperation. The 12 participants are mainlyfrom the Baltic states and Russia.The Boskalis Homemarket Development Programwas developed for project workers and managersinvolved in projects led from Boskalis’ Europeanoffices. As well as leadership skills and puttingthem into practice, key areas covered in theprogram include commercial skills and contractmanagement. By bringing together people fromdifferent countries Boskalis hopes to bridge culturaldifferences and to strengthen mutual synergiesand internal networks. Shipbuilding for Dredgersis another new course launched in 2010. Boskalistechnical staff who are involved in designing,building or rebuilding or the technical aspects ofoperating a ship are introduced to a wide range ofshipbuilding aspects relevant to the fleet.In the spring of 2010 the new International DredgingAcademy was launched for Boskalis engineers anddeck officers.SMIT makes targeted investments in the instructionand training of both its crews and members ofthe onshore organization. Examples include theTugmaster Training Program it has developedin-house to train crew members from around theworld to become tugboat captains, and the trainingcourse in Contracting organized for onshore staffin 2010 aimed at further improving the quality ofcontracts entered into.WorkforceAt the end of 2010, the total number of peopleemployed by the Group was 13,832. ExcludingSMIT, Lamnalco and Archirodon we employed 4,674(2009: 4,858). This is a decline of 4%.Works CouncilsCommunications with the Works Councils ofBoskalis and SMIT were intensive in 2010. At theend of September both works councils issued apositive advice on the integration plan.The Works Councils’ approach and the way inwhich they fulfilled their duties are very muchappreciated.EquipmentThe modernization of the Boskalis fleet isproceeding according to plan. In 2010 the trailingsuction hopper dredgers Gateway, Shoalwayand Willem van Oranje were taken into service,along with the backhoe Baldur. The Willem vanOranje was named and launched by Her MajestyQueen Beatrix on 10 February 2010 in a ceremonywhich commemorated the 100th anniversary ofthe company. In 2010 progress was made withthe construction of the new fall pipe vessel. Theself-propelled jumbo cutter Taurus was modified andthe mega hopper W.D. Fairway was repurchasedfrom the insurance companies. As part of the fleetrationalization program announced in 2009 the W.D.Medway II, a trailing suction hopper dredger witha capacity of 3,513 cubic meters, was taken out ofservice and dismantled using an environmentallyfriendly procedure which is described in our 2009CSR report.In 2010 the new version of the Maximo maintenancesystem was further rolled out across the Boskalisfleet. The system is one of the cornerstones of ValueDriven Maintenance, our maintenance control toolthat allows us to arrange the maintenance processmore accurately and to optimize the availability ofour vessels.During 2010 a total of 25 new SMIT units weredelivered, mainly as part of a fleet renewal drive andexpansion in the Harbour Towage, Terminal Servicesand Transport & Heavy Lift activities. The companytook delivery of new build comprising 20 tugboatswith a bollard pull ranging from 45 to 80 tonnes, twomultipurpose work vessels (95 tbp), a smaller workvessel (28 tbp) and two transport pontoons.Six of the tugboats taken delivery of were destinedfor the 50%-owned venture Keppel SMIT Towage inSingapore.Research and developmentBoskalis makes targeted investments in the researchand development of new and innovative workingmethods and information technology. This enablesthe company to meet the challenges associated withcomplex large-scale projects.Royal Boskalis Westminster nv47