Our loyal exhibitor AluShip is entering 2025 with a good feeling

On June 24, 2024, a major fire destroyed the AluShip building in Steenwijk. Director John Sellis and his staff did not sit back and do nothing, but immediately investigated the possibilities for another production facility. The temporary new base was located at Koematen. Thanks to the excellent relationship with the Municipality of Steenwijkerland, AluShip received the permits for demolition and reconstruction in record time. Within six months, construction of a new building at the old location started.

Last November 1, the first pile for the new AluShip building went into the ground. The expectation is that the contractor will be able to finish the steel construction with the plating this year. Because the production of the hulls first took place in Friesland and the finishing in Steenwijk, work could be done less efficiently. The hulls now come from a production location in Steenwijk. AluShip now produces more than half of the number of aluminum boats from before the fire.

The company hopes to be able to continue production in the new building at the familiar location from February 2025. At the moment, the market for sloops and tenders is quiet, but orders kept flowing in at AluShip. The order portfolio is almost fully booked for 2025 with dozens of orders from private individuals and companies from all over the country.

Sellis is particularly proud of the order for 10 new electric tour boats of 10 meters in length. The new production facility will be almost twice as large as the old one and the company expects to deliver two new boats every week next year. AluShip is therefore now looking for new skilled personnel to expand the team and further increase production.

Sellis has had an intensive and exciting year, but looks to the future with confidence. "The new building is of course something wonderful to look forward to. And it makes me incredibly happy that the market has continued to have confidence in us. I think that we can make many people happy with a new boat in the new year."