Posted on September 24, 2025
On September 4th, the STREAM project was officially signed: an innovative collaboration between four Dutch shipyards, funded by a €2 million grant. The project focuses on the development of a self-learning, automated panel production line with smart welding robots and cobots. STREAM is expected to lead to more efficient processes, lower costs, and a stronger international competitive position. With this, the parties involved are taking a significant step towards more modern, future-proof shipyards in the Netherlands.
€2 million for research and development of self-learning production line
The official ratification of the STREAM project on September 4th marked the start of one of the first concrete implementation projects within the Werf van de Toekomst Drechtsteden-Rotterdam project. STREAM—short for ” Systematic Development of Efficient Shipbuilding Processes for Dutch Shipyards through Robotics & Automation “—received a €2 million grant and is intended to lead to more modern shipyards, lower costs, and a stronger international competitive position.
Four leading Dutch shipyards join forces
. In STREAM, four Dutch shipyards that supply ships worldwide—Neptune Marine, Royal IHC, Gebroeders Kooiman Shipyard, and Mercury Yacht Construction—are collaborating on the innovation of their production processes. The goal is to maintain and structurally strengthen shipbuilding in the Netherlands. The urgency is high: the Netherlands is at risk of losing ground in the construction of complex, customized ships, a field in which it has excelled for years.
Inset photo: On September 4, the participating shipyards from the Werf van de Toekomst Drechtsteden-Rotterdam steering group signed the STREAM project.
From left to right: (seated) Johan de Bie (IHC), Benjamin Grefkens (Neptune & lead partner STREAM), (standing) Andre Boer (HiDelta), Peter Burger (Den Breejen Shipyard), Martin Bloem (Damen Shipyards Group), Jeroen Kortenoeven (Slob Shipyard), Roland van de Graaf (IMC), Dominique Nieuwpoort (InnovationQuarter), Joost Weeda (Deal & chairman of the steering committee of the Shipyard of the Future Drechtsteden – Rotterdam )
Self-learning panel line makes shipbuilding process more efficient.
The project focuses on the development of an automated panel line, utilizing smart welding machines, welding robots, and welding robots. A panel line is the part of the shipyard where steel plates are welded into larger ship components, such as the hull. To minimize risks during the research phase and make the system future-proof, a self-learning control system is being developed that learns from deviations during production and adjusts the process immediately.
The technology for the welding robots and cobots is being developed by SAM XL, while RoboHouse is collaborating with shipyard employees to investigate how the smart welding robot can be implemented in practice. Both partners are part of a field lab at Delft University of Technology. The ambition, as the first project within the Shipyard of the Future Drechtsteden-Rotterdam project, is for this region to become one of the most important European regions for complex shipbuilding by 2030. The region already accounts for 43% of Dutch maritime activity and has a combined annual turnover of over €5 billion.
Robotization in practice:
To maintain Dutch shipyards’ competitiveness and stay ahead of the curve, modern shipyards based on new digitalization and robotization technologies are needed. This reduces costs and addresses labor shortages. One of the biggest challenges in shipbuilding is the welding process. Although automation is being extensively experimented with worldwide, standard welding robots prove virtually impossible to implement in Dutch shipyards due to the wide variation in ship designs and working conditions. Therefore, STREAM is specifically working on technology that can handle this variation.
Neptune’s panel production line serves as a development environment for the welding robots. Uniquely, this isn’t done in separate steps, but within a single, integrated production line, controlled by a self-learning system linked to the ship’s 3D design model. This allows for early detection of errors, process adjustments, and feedback of information to the design – a direct improvement over the current, largely manual working method. Knowledge is being accumulated and shared in a yet-to-be-established testing ground: the Living Lab.
Benjamin Grefkens, CEO of Neptune & project leader for STREAM: ” Progress comes from sharing knowledge and working together to build the Shipyard of the Future. With STREAM, our shipyards, Deal, and the field labs RoboHouse and Delft University of Technology are joining forces to elevate shipbuilding – a national treasure – to a higher level. By innovating together, we are taking the step from traditional craftsmanship to high-tech craftsmanship.”
Collaboration and support
STREAM is the first concrete implementation project within the regional Werf van de Toekomst Drechtsteden-Rotterdam partnership . This partnership contributes to the national flagship project Werf van de Toekomst , of which NMT-IRO is the project owner and is part of the National Sector Agenda for the Maritime Manufacturing Industry.
The Drechtsteden/Rotterdam region is forming a powerful coalition of nine shipyards: Damen Shipyards Group, Neptune Marine, Royal IHC, Gebroeders Kooiman Shipyard, Den Breejen Shipyard, Slob Shipyard, Oceanco Group (of which Mercury Yacht Construction is a part), Holland Shipyards Group, and De Haas Shipyards. These shipyards are being supported throughout the process by the regional development company InnovationQuarter and the regional network organization Deal.
This project also involved collaboration with the subsidy agencies IMC/UniResearch. InnovationQuarter and Deal established the partnership, contributed to connecting the shipyards, and utilized the appropriate subsidy scheme.
STREAM is supported by a €2 million grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). This grant is part of the Maritime Innovation Projects Subsidy Scheme.
The total project value is €4.5 million.
