Joep Broekhuijsen Research Engineer

‘It is interesting to meet bright minds’

After finishing my college education Maritime Engineering at the Technical University in Delft, I started at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding as a construction specialist. I design and analyse constructions that are exposed to extreme forces, such as explosions or collisions.

For my Master's thesis assignment, I analysed collision tests at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. The results of these tests ultimately lead to a new type of construction. With this particular construction, which has since been patented, we are able to construct a kind of crumple zone, which is especially suitable for protecting ships that are carrying dangerous cargo. So when after I had completed my thesis, I was offered a steady job, I was very happy.

 

BRIGHT MINDS

In the meantime, my job has broadened and I am not solely responsible for the constructions, I now also research new applications for materials, connection techniques and ICT solutions that will help improve our processes. I am free to divide my time between numerous topics. Another thing that makes my job so interesting is the research work involved: unravelling and applying my research results. This brings me into contact with bright minds all over the world. That's when you realize that Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding has built an excellent reputation as high quality and technically innovative vessel building shipyard. Especially when building naval vessels it is paramount that we search for and apply high tech solutions and innovative designs. Obviously, this cannot be achieved without a budget for research.

 

BROADEN YOUR HORIZON

Naturally, in research you must be capable of broadening your horizon. You work pretty much independently, although it is essential to keep in touch with colleagues, so that they can point out where the bottlenecks are in day-to-day business. We welcome students and graduates to our company so, in addition to my day job, I am presently coaching the design and construction of a sun boat for students of the Maritime Institute De Ruyter in Vlissingen. This is great fun to do. Another thing I like to do in my free time, is take part in the summer night competitions on the Veerse Meer where my colleagues and I compete on the water. That is just another one of the advantages of working in Zeeland.

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