The Facilities

The modern fabrication facilities in Hardinxveld-Giessendam comprise a single covered slipway which can accommodate vessels with a length of 180 metres and a beam of 28.40 metres. Overhead travelling cranes can handle ship’s components of up to 120 tons in weight. The indoor production process guarantees that the highest standards of work, quality and progress can be maintained.

In October 2006 IHC Offshore & Marine decided to re-open the former van der Giessen de Noord facilities in Krimpen aan den IJssel. This was the response from IHC Offshore & Marine to the increased demand for slipway capacity in the markets served by the company: offshore, dredging, ferries and other specialised shipbuilding.
With the reopening of Europe's largest covered slipway IHC Merwede has four covered shipbuilding slipways in the Netherlands, namely in Kinderdijk, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Sliedrecht and Krimpen. The building hall in Krimpen aan den IJssel can accommodate vessels with a length of 240 metres and a beam of 38 metres. Due to a travelling crane capacity of 240 tons, block section fabrication can be applied very efficiently which has a positive effect on the slipway period.