About Shipyard Slob
Track record
Shipyard Slob has been building complete ships and hulls for superyachts for 75 years. Shipyard Slob has a track record of more than 65 hulls for superyachts ranging between 40 and 120 meters in length. Shipyard Slob is directly involved in the sale of Feadship superyachts and takes responsibility from the design up to and including the delivery of the superyachts.
Our history
Establishment of Lasbedrijf J.C. Slob in Sliedrecht
From coasters to hulls for luxury yachts.
In the first years after the Second World War, Jan Cornelis Slob worked as a welder on a floating forge. By working hard and a lot, he was able to save money to start his own business one day. In April 1947 he took the plunge and bought a small cruiser from the Dutch navy with which he sailed past wrecks to do welding work. Later that year he rented a piece of land from the municipality of Sliedrecht on which he set up a shack and started his company: Elektrisch Las- en Scheepsbouwbedrijf J.C. Slob.
In 1954, Jan Slob started building ships in a large business space on the Industrieweg in Sliedrecht. Not only Dutch, but also foreign companies knew how to find the shipyard. (Jan Slob didn’t speak a word of English, but in 1957 he built a barge suction dredger for an English dredging company.)
In 1959, Slob bought a piece of land in Papendrecht for a second location. He laid a welding floor with a mobile canopy to be able to work dry. This made Slob’s shipyard the first in the Netherlands to be able to build ships completely covered.
Purchase of a site at the Ketelhaven in Papendrecht due to growing business activities
The seventies were a good time for Shipyard Slob. The locations in Papendrecht and Sliedrecht were regularly expanded and equipped with new machines. The latest techniques were also constantly introduced. Shipyard Slob carried out assignments for Boskalis, among others, and the construction of the Maasvlakte also resulted in a lot of work. In the early eighties, the malaise struck and Slob had to close the branch in Sliedrecht.
Concentration of all production activities at the location in Papendrecht, as a result of which the activities in Sliedrecht were terminated
In the mid-eighties, Slob had enough work on inland vessels, pontoons, coasters, crane vessels and heavy constructions for the offshore and started to grow again. By extending the slope by 25 meters in 1991 and turning the two dock doors into one dock door, Shipyard Slob was able to build ships up to 125 meters from that moment on.
Specialization in the construction of hulls for yacht building, with clients such as Amels, Royal Van Lent, Oceanco, Klaassen and Royal De Vries Shipbuilding
In 1993, Slob built his first hull of a luxury yacht. Since 1994, Shipyard Slob has specialized in the construction of hulls for yacht building. When Hall 5 was completed in 1997, the 50th anniversary of the yard was celebrated at the same time.
Attached is a photo of the 1st hull of motor yacht “Meduse” for De Vries Shipbuilding. Built in hall 4 and for the first time in a covered container shed.
Integration into Royal De Vries Shipbuilding, which led to further growth and development within the luxury yacht building sector
In 1999, the decision was made: yacht builder De Vries Shipbuilding in Aalsmeer had had such good experiences with the quality of Slob that it was decided to take over the shipyard, together with Van Lent Shipyard (which became Royal in 2001) in Kaag. In 2002, Shipyard Slob became a 100% subsidiary of Royal De Vries Shipbuilding.
The goal of Shipyard Slob had remained unchanged over the years: high-quality new construction and repair of ships. The modern shipyard had its own pre-processing department, pre-assembly and section halls, a bench shop and a covered slipway. In addition, there was a private drawing office and work preparation department.
Construction of a new office on the site in Papendrecht, with a view over the Beneden Merwede, to improve the facilities for staff and engineering departments
Shipyard Slob and its co-makers deliver 6 hulls in just over a year. Shipyard Slob has never been so busy in its history. A top performance!
Commissioning of the new production hall on the Rietgorsweg in Papendrecht for the construction of large aluminum superyacht superstructures
The very highest quality
All employees of Shipyard Slob share their passion for their work, believe in each other’s abilities and work to the limit to be the best in their profession. They are responsible for and proud of their achievements and above all they enjoy working on Feadship’s dream yachts.
Feadship customers are thus delivered the highest quality hulls. Particular attention is paid to the welding and grinding quality, dimensional stability and dimensional stability of the hull. The knowledge and experience to deliver this quality is part of the shipyard’s culture. Shipyard Slob thus contributes to the highest quality superyachts, for which Feadship is known. The foundation for this quality is already laid during the design and engineering process by the engineers of Shipyard Slob.
Our team
Employees in the spotlight
About Erik
My career started as an apprentice welder and now I have been working at Slob Shipyard for 22 years, where I am now foreman Slope and Transport. Our team is close and the work is varied, no two days are the same. One of the best moments remains the transport of a hull to the finishing yard, which is impressive to witness.
About Veda
For 29 years I have been stepping into the yard with a good feeling. My career started as an ironworker and now I am a foreman. Every day I am proud of what we achieve together here: building beautiful super yachts. We deliver top quality and work in a pleasant, collegial atmosphere.
About Jorien
For 31 years I have enjoyed working at Slob Shipyard, where I am now a porter. At the age of 15 I started at the shipyard and have since then held various positions in production. I especially loved printing and forming sheet metal. Nowadays I have a lot of contact with both employees and visitors to the shipyard. That social aspect gives me a lot of energy and I do my best to create a nice working environment for everyone.
About Aniket
Working at Slob is enjoyable because of the collaborative environment and focus on innovation. As part of the team, I contribute to creating high-quality solutions, ensuring every detail is perfected. The emphasis on continuous development fosters both personal growth and team success. It's rewarding to work with a dedicated group, all striving towards excellence and creating impactful results together.
About Rick
For me, working at Slob Shipyard means working on high-quality hulls of luxury yachts, where cooperation, craftsmanship and quality are key. No day is the same and there are plenty of opportunities to grow. For example, I started as a construction coordinator and recently I was promoted to project manager. Together we build impressive projects with different challenges. Together we solve problems, which creates satisfaction and pride!
About Nicole
“Without friction no shine. The real thing? That's what we do here at Slob! We work with all our might, with the Rotterdam “no bullshit but polish” mentality, so that a beautiful piece of steel (and aluminum) leaves the docks just in time. When me and my colleagues see her sailing towards the horizon from the quay, I think proudly: we just did a great job!