From childhood fascination to drone carrier innovation

As a child growing up near Aalsmeer, Bastiaan Vink was captivated by ships. Seeing the vessels at Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw sparked a lifelong passion. “I didn’t need career advice or open days,” he says. “I just knew, my future was in the maritime world.”

After graduating as a maritime engineer from TU Delft in 2017, Bastiaan joined Damen Shipyards. He started in Design & Proposal Ferries, working on unique projects like a modular ferry for England and electric ferries for Denmark. “At Damen, you can learn everything about the maritime industry. That promise was made during my interview and it’s true.”

Building the Future: Drone carrier for the Portuguese Navy

Today, Bastiaan is leading one of Damen’s most advanced projects: a 107-meter drone carrier for the Portuguese navy. “It’s like a mini aircraft carrier, but for drones,” he explains. The vessel is custom-built, part of Damen’s Offshore Specialized Vessels division, which delivers five to ten large ships annually.

The project began with a European tender, where Bastiaan and his team translated complex client requirements into a realistic, competitive offer. “That early phase is my favorite,” he says. “Everything is still open. You can explore, innovate, and shape the future.”

Trust, culture, and communication

Negotiating the offer involved late nights and trips to Portugal. “Winning the contract was a special moment,” Bastiaan shares. But the real work begins after that. He now oversees technical and external aspects of the build, coordinating across departments and locations.

“Everyone is excellent at what they do,” he says. “But the challenge is getting them to communicate and collaborate effectively. That’s where I come in, connecting the dots.”

Understanding cultural nuances is key. “Dutch people are direct. That doesn’t always work elsewhere. Luckily, our sales managers know their regions inside out.”

A day in the life

Bastiaan’s schedule is a masterclass in multitasking. From reviewing weekend emails and planning with the project team, to supplier negotiations and engineering reviews, no two days are the same. “One moment I’m booking a trip, the next I’m arranging a banner for the shipyard or solving a technical issue like a second compressor.”

Work hard, play hard

“I love working at Damen,” Bastiaan says. “But I need constant challenge. I get bored easily, I want to grow, learn, and do new things.” Damen’s culture of entrepreneurship and development suits him perfectly.