HJB, the new name for Holland Jachtbouw, has unveiled its brand-new construction facility at a spectacular ceremony attended by hundreds of personnel and invited guests from around the world. From the deck of the gigantic schooner Athos, a canon blast revealed the yard’s new logo and slogan, ‘Where can we take you’. Athos will be the first yacht to be completed in the new assembly and finishing hall, which measures 69 x 20 metres and is fitted with the very latest technical equipment and logistics.

April 4, 2008 will go down as a landmark in the history of luxury yachtbuilding. Leading members of the industry gathered in the afternoon at the HJB yard near Amsterdam for a private tour and presentation by the HJB management team.

Yard founder Chris Gongriep looked back at how groundbreaking yachts such as his own Windrose of Amsterdam, had brought Holland Jachtbouw global prominence. Managing Director Paul Dielemans then explained how he, Tako van Ineveld (Production Director) and Arjen Zijlmans (Technical Director) have taken the yard forward since a management buy-out two years ago.

“Our goal is to lead the industry in terms of quality in our chosen sector of sailing yachts and motorboats under 500GT,” Dielemans explained. “This is being achieved via the implementation of the World Class Manufacturing (WCM), a process that standardises production and gives staff ownership over quality. Our new facilities were therefore designed by our personnel, who used all their practical experience to create this superlative new hall and the adjacent three-story workshops and support divisions.”

Dielemans also announced plans to upgrade the existing construction hall (45 x 20 metres) to the same state of the art before the arrival of a new 42-metre motoryacht project in the summer. He and his co-directors then gave their audience a tour of the yard, Athos and the 43-metre motoryacht Life Saga, which has just completed a spectacular 18-month refit at HJB. Hundreds more guests came to the yard in evening for the official opening ceremony and a well-deserved party.