Damen Shipyards has denied accusations by Dutch prosecutors that it has violated EU sanctions against Russia.
The shipyard has also denied claims of corruption against the company and some of its executives.
In a statement, the shipyard said it operates in a climate in which strategic autonomy and public-private partnerships are essential topics.
And it said the legal issues relate to a project from more than ten years’ ago.
The statement is in response to accusations by Dutch prosecutors that it has violated EU sanctions against Russia.
Prosecutors also say a separate case has been opened against the company and some of its executives for corruption.
Investigation
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) started an investigation into Damen Shipyards in 2017 because of suspicions of corruption,” said Damen.
“This investigation covered the period 2006 and 2016, a period in which Damen carried out 1500 complex shipbuilding projects worldwide.
“After eight years of investigation, the Public Prosecution Service has compiled a file that mainly concerns suspicions of forgery, no longer mainly corruption.
“Moreover, some of these are cases that have already been assessed.”
And Damen says one of the cases dates back to 2014 and previously led to settlement with the World Bank.
“Since then, Damen Shipyards has a robust compliance organisation and business operations have improved,” said the shipyard’s statement.
And the shipyard said that it is now ISO certified and meets the highest standard for anti-corruption measures which are recognised by an external auditor.
Feasible case
“Damen has assessed the file and concludes that the Public Prosecution Service does not have a feasible case,” said the statement.
“Damen is disappointed in the long duration of the investigation and foresees a long legal battle.
“Damen is confident in the lawsuit and finally gets the chance to explain that the suspicions of the Public Prosecution Service are incorrect.”
And the shipyard said it stood behind the executives ‘unconditionally’.
And the shipyard says it has always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages and full transparency has always been exercised about its activities.
The shipyard refers to a case from June 2022 which it says involves the supply of a limited number of civilian cranes to Russia which took place within the sanctions legislation in force at the time.
“Damen will defend himself fully,” added the statement.
Damen employs around 12,000 employees and in October 2023 sued the Dutch Government over damages it said it had suffered due to the Russian sanctions.
