Shipbuilding activity expands under Georges Van Damme, with world’s largest LNG carrier Methania (1978) and the yard’s first LPG vessel Coral Temse (1981)
The postwar years : the golden age of shipbuilding at Boelwerf and the delivery of EXMAR’s first gas carrier
Under the guidance of Georges Van Damme, the postwar period saw the rapid expansion of the Boelwerf yard, with 27 ships built for Russia and new investments in infrastructure to build larger, sophisticated seagoing vessels. Milestones included the delivery of LNG carrier METHANIA in 1978 and EXMAR’s first LPG gas carrier CORAL TEMSE in 1981, which coincided with the appointment of Van Damme’s son-in-law Philippe Saverys as Chairman.
Georges Van Damme, Frans Boel’s son-in-law, took over the management of the shipyard in 1943 after Frans Boel passed away, and paved the way for Boelwerf’s most successful period in it’s history. With continuous investments in infrastructure, the yard built 27 ships for Russia and constructed a bank angle capable accommodating vessels of 20,000 tons and then up to 90,000 tons. The holding company expanded into shipowning, industrial works and ship demolition.
By the 1970s Boelwerf in Temse won the contract to build the 131,580m3 LNG tanker METHANIA, which was built and delivered to EXMAR in 1978. METHANIA was the world’s largest LNG carrier of its kind at that time. A dry dock was also added to the existing facilities.
Philippe Saverys, Georges Van Damme’s son-in-law , took over management of the shipyard in 1981.
EXMAR entered the gas sector that year with the construction of its first owned LPG gas carrier CORAL TEMSE (7,300m3) in Boelwerf during this period, specifically for long-term business with Dow Chemical. This was quickly followed by a fleet expansion which included the Boelwerf-built EUPEN (57,000m3), TIELRODE (25,000m3) and several time-chartered vessels in 1983, with the sister vessel GENT (57,000m3) delivered in 1985.
The 1980s was impacted by the international shipbuilding crisis. Cheaper labour in the Far East meant less orders for European yards. The Belgian government obliged Boelwerf to takeover the nearby bankrupt Cockerill Yard of Hoboken which in turn forced the company to dramatically reduce costs and personnel. In 1987, with the Belgian government of the time unfortunately not keeping to financial commitments, Philippe Saverys stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Boelwerf.
