Smooth operations beyond the launch
Maintaining top-level performance
The shipyard’s Service Department has grown from the same practical discipline that shapes each custom yacht: precise engineering, careful documentation and a commitment to support the vessel long after delivery. In a sector where reliability and readiness matter, a dedicated Service Department is essential. It represents the promise of Royal Huisman and Huisfit to stand by each yacht, ensuring that the owner’s experience remains seamless from day one and throughout worldwide operation.
Superyachts are technically advanced vessels, and every full-custom newbuild or refit project is by nature a one-off. Owners nevertheless and obviously expect their yacht to be ready when they are. Maintaining onboard systems is therefore vital for comfort, performance, safety and longevity. Minimised downtime, quick diagnostics and effective repairs help ensure that valuable time onboard can be spent with family and friends, while on-demand support from the shipyard gives crew the confidence to deliver that experience. An owner of a Royal Huisman yacht stated:
“How do I know their after-sales service is good? Because crew sing their praises.”
”There is no obligation for owners to use the shipyard team for service, but for many the depth of understanding and continuity are highly reassuring.”
A next phase, not an ending
Commissioning, sea trials and delivery may appear to be the final stages before the owner sets out to explore the world. At many yards, the relationship between yacht and builder is said to become less intense during or soon after delivery. Yet, at Royal Huisman and Huisfit, launch and trials mark the start of the next phase: a long-standing relationship between the crew, the owner’s team and the Service Department.
The shipyard has a dedicated Service Department that provides parts and technical support to both new and refitted yachts, wherever they are in the world. Because the team takes pride in standing behind its work, this is not just an advisory or parts-delivery service. After-sales support extends as far into the future as the owner wishes, through warranty work, long-term service and technical assistance after many years and many tens of thousands of miles of operation.
”Ensure valuable time onboard can be spent with family and friends”
Support in summary
- Parts Supply: purchasing, storing and global shipping of competitively priced spare parts, supported by the Article Management System as a data source to help ensure compatibility, premium quality, multiple checks for quality control and the shortest possible lead times.
- Technical support: expert advice, troubleshooting and remote assistance for onboard crew and technical managers.
- Routine maintenance: scheduled servicing and preventive maintenance to keep the yacht in peak condition and minimise downtime.
- Emergency response: rapid mobilisation when unexpected breakdowns or damage occur, wherever the yacht is located.
- Refit and upgrades: support for comprehensive refits, technology upgrades, interior redesigns and system enhancements in cooperation with Huisfit and P&G Yachting.
- Regulatory and classification support: assistance with evolving safety, environmental and legal requirements.
- Documentation and references: custom yacht manuals and supporting materials for the operation and maintenance of sophisticated onboard systems.
“I would like to express my gratitude for providing me with the information. It will undoubtedly prove invaluable in our efforts to identify the work that has been carried out and its corresponding timeline.”
Captain of Coro Coro
”It has made a huge deal having that support over the past few days. […] RHS is showing how remarkable a shipyard she is.”
Owner’s representative of Elfje
One team, worldwide reach
While newbuild superyachts and landmark refit projects often take centre stage, the Service Department helps each vessel continue to operate as intended and retain its long-term value. The department works in-house for newbuild projects and for yachts refitted, converted or rebuilt by Huisfit, with additional support from the shipyard’s co-owned company P&G Yachting in Palma de Mallorca and trusted specialists wherever a yacht may be cruising.
Every yacht leaves the shipyard with comprehensive systems manuals installed on its digital network and replicated at the shipyard. Build diagrams, photographs, parts and spares specifications, model numbers, 3D model information, engineering design files and testing and commissioning data are retained within the shipyard’s database, organised through a detailed and consistent coding system (see “The Royal Huisman alphabet”). Just as important, the engineers and specialists who designed and built the yacht remain available to the Service Department for insight. This combination of data, documentation and people enables the team to provide a high level of support online, by email, by telephone and in person.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to commend the team who worked hard and diligently in the time frame given.”
Captain of Sarissa
With all project know-how available, the team can act as a rapid-response unit. This continuity also supports future owners of the yacht, enhancing resale value and providing practical advice, information and reassurance to new owners and their crew. If a problem requires the attendance of the shipyard’s engineers, whether the yacht is berthed in a Mediterranean marina or at a remote Pacific anchorage, the team will respond swiftly. Service teams travel worldwide, are highly self-sufficient and are used to finding solutions in demanding locations. A request to attend a yacht in a remote part of Patagonia would not put them off. There is no obligation for owners to use the shipyard team for service, but for many the depth of understanding and continuity are highly reassuring.
People behind the response
The Service Department’s work extends beyond repairs. It combines current technology, experienced people and detailed knowledge of each vessel to deliver solutions tailored to the yacht. It helps that the shipyard’s team is involved from the earliest stages, collaborating with the design, engineering and production teams in Vollenhove and Amsterdam. The service team itself consists of more than 20 full-time people, including coordinators, field engineers and a flexible group of support staff. The department is led by Peter Brinksma and Lars Tanja, a two-headed structure that reflects how seriously the shipyard’s team takes service and after-sales support.
Peter Brinksma has been in shipbuilding for well over 30 years. He started his training as an apprentice at the shipyard in the early 1990s, then left to complete his obligatory army service. When he resumed his career, he worked at other yards but has now been at Royal Huisman for over 20 years. He has headed teams in construction and systems engineering. As manager of Royal Huisman’s Service Department, he brings a wealth of experience, a methodical understanding of yacht systems and the ability to activate the right inhouse expertise when complex technical questions arise. His experience forms the foundation for external communications and challenging enquiries.
Peter explains how the team can coordinate the necessary activity: “At Royal Huisman, we have a proprietary Alarm & Monitoring (A&M) system. With prior approval from the crew, we can log into a yacht’s A&M system that monitors everything onboard. We started using this system in the nineties and it has been continuously upgraded since. It is based on PLCs, Programmable Logic Controllers, and we call it the beating heart. It is a very advanced system, which is praised by the owners, captains and engineers of Royal Huisman yachts. In the meantime, this system has been installed on some non-Huisman yachts during a refit too, like Vitters’ Adèle and Holland Jachtbouw’s Athos.”
Home screen of Royal Huisman's proprietary Alarm & Monitoring system and based on PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers): the yacht's beating heart and praised by the owners, captains and engineers.
Peter adds: “Not too long ago, an engineer on a yacht called, saying he could not start the main engine to leave the marina. We remotely accessed the yacht’s PLC and figured out a workaround. It would have been embarrassing to have a tugboat lead the yacht out of the harbour. Our number one goal is to make sure the owner can use the yacht when he or she wants to.” What may look like superpowers is experience, access to the right information and the ability to act quickly. The service team is on hand, ready to spring into action whenever the long-term cycle of after-sales service and customer support calls for it.
“I would firstly like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved. The planning and fast action has saved our season, and the owner will be extremely pleased that we can attend the next trips.”
Chief engineer of Elfje
Lars Tanja, who has been with Royal Huisman for five years and in the Service Department for three years, complements the department with a maritime technical background, sea time and people-management skills. His experience onboard helps him understand the needs of crews and technical managers, often before those needs become visible from ashore. This enables him to safeguard the highest possible quality level of the department’s output and day-to-day operation. In addition to project management, Lars is a skilled technical writer and has produced several shipyard manuals, including for the sailing yachts Sarissa and Nilaya and the sportfish motoryacht Special One. “I also enjoy hands-on practicality. My background is that of a professional seafarer. So, I enjoy working in the field too and sense the onboard needs really well because of my background ,” he says. “That helps me match our department’s focus with clients’ needs, much of it happening in the background, out of sight.”
Coordinators act as dedicated points of contact for individual yachts as part of the newbuild project management team. Well before delivery, a dedicated Testing & Commissioning (T&C) coordinator is in the lead assisted by the upcoming Service coordinator. After delivery, the Service Department coordinator takes the lead for support, follow-up and practical continuity for the yacht’s crew. Much of this work happens after the launch photos have been taken and the delivery celebrations have ended. Yet it remains an essential part of the ownership experience:
”Practical, responsive support that helps crews operate with confidence, protects the yacht’s long-term value and keeps each Royal Huisman or Huisfit yacht performing as intended, wherever the next passage leads.”
“Thank you and for the outstanding support and collaboration. It has been a pleasure working alongside such a professional and dedicated group. I have greatly appreciated the support, professionalism, and positive working relationship throughout my time onboard.”
Engineer of Ravenger
“Thank you for organizing this very short and intense work period in St Maarten, like always the service department are very hard workers.”
Chief engineer of Ethereal
“The Service Dept guys, the most important people in the life of Elfje and Elfje crew….!!!”
Captain of Elfje
“It was great to have the guys aboard. Not only did they resolve all of the important items, but they also were able to address most of the lower priority items that have been on our list for months or even years.”
Captain of Juliet
