Posted on October 27, 2025
Young engineers bring fresh ideas and new energy into the dredging industry. One of them is Bart, who started his journey with us after graduating in mechanical engineering. His story shows how technology and international projects come together in this sector.
During his mechanical engineering studies, he spent six months on an internship at Van Oord, where he first became truly acquainted with the dredging industry. The combination of technology, international projects, and working on large, complex systems immediately appealed to him. In the final year of his studies, while searching for a graduation project, he came across Motas Dredging Solutions. The company’s smaller scale, innovative focus, and variety of projects fit perfectly with his interests. After graduating, he decided to travel for a while. But once he returned, he joined Motas as a mechanical engineer.
Fresh perspective
Working in the dredging industry turned out to be far more versatile than he had expected. Where he once feared he would be stuck behind a computer designing all day, he quickly found himself facing practical challenges on sites in the United States and Malaysia. The international collaboration and the scale of the projects continue to impress and inspire him.
That is also why he believes it is so important for more young people to discover this sector. It’s a field where technology, sustainability, and adventure come together. There is a constant search for more efficient and smarter ways of working. The Netherlands has a strong reputation in this industry, and with the growing focus on energy-efficient designs, there is plenty of room for new ideas. Young people can bring the fresh perspective that is needed to keep moving forward.
Just dive in
His advice to those considering a career in the maritime or dredging sector? Just dive in and don’t be afraid to try new things. You learn an incredible amount in a short time. Especially if you are open to different roles and international experiences. And best of all: the results of your work are often directly visible.
Looking ahead, he is most excited about combining his technical expertise with project management, so that he can not only contribute to innovative designs but also guide projects through to execution. He also hopes to continue discovering new countries and cultures through his work. Developments such as sustainable propulsion systems, predictive maintenance, and modular design are of particular interest to him. In his view, these technologies hold the key to a more efficient and future-proof dredging industry.
