Alewijnse and Van Meer Join Forces for a Sustainable Maritime Future
At this year’s Europort exhibition in Rotterdam Ahoy, two Dutch technology leaders, Alewijnse and Van Meer, officially sealed a strategic partnership that marks a major step toward a more sustainable maritime industry. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development and integration of hybrid and electric propulsion systems, energy storage solutions, and smart drive technologies.
Shared DNA and a Transformative Vision
Both companies share a clear mission: to drive the maritime sector toward electrification and energy efficiency. As Mischa Habermehl, Solution Manager Hybrid at Alewijnse, explained during the signing ceremony, the partnership is rooted in a shared philosophy.
"We really feel that we are very complementary to each other and we share the same DNA,” Habermehl said. "We’re trying to move away from the transactional towards the transformative. That means we see real added value in sharing our knowledge and teaming up.”
According to Habermehl, the partnership is not just about working together on projects, it’s about co-creating innovation. "By investing in a joint knowledge base, we can innovate faster and more practically,” he added. "With dependable partners like Van Meer, we take away risks for the end user and offer a stronger value proposition.”
A Long-Term, Responsible Partnership
The cooperation is designed for the long haul. Habermehl emphasized that this is not a short-term contract but a strategic alliance focused on sustainable growth.
"We both have the intention to prolong it for a longer period of time because in the maritime industry, if you want to accelerate and grow, you have to do that responsibly and mitigate risk,” he explained.
"It’s very important to adopt strong partners in the industry that speak the same language. That allows us to eliminate waste in engineering and contracting and ensures clear mutual expectations.”
Innovation in a Changing Market
For Van Meer, known for its pioneering work in electric drive systems and energy conversion, the collaboration with Alewijnse is a natural next step. Jelle van Hooren, Account Manager at Van Meer, pointed to the technological shift from AC to DC grids as a key driver.
"We’ve worked together successfully on projects before,” Van Hooren said. "With the market shifting from AC to DC grids, we saw a clear opportunity to combine our strengths. Together we can deliver a more complete and powerful package for our customers.”
The companies plan to focus on new vessel development in the coming decade, with Van Meer’s expertise in DC grid technology complementing Alewijnse’s system integration capabilities. "With new vessels coming in the upcoming years, we can make a stronger cooperation by adding our DC grid value to their total system integration,” Van Hooren noted.
Europort: The Perfect Stage for a Milestone
The decision to formalize the partnership at Europort 2025 was no coincidence. Both companies have a long history at the event, which is one of the leading international maritime trade shows. "Europort is the right mix between business-to-business and client interaction,” Habermehl said. "Our client base is international, and so is Europort, people from all over the world come here.”
Van Hooren agreed: "It’s the perfect moment and location to show everyone that we have a strong collaboration and a shared commitment toward the future.”
Toward a Cleaner, Smarter Future
As Gert Bravenboer, CEO of Alewijnse, put it in the official press release, the partnership embodies the spirit of collaboration needed to meet the industry’s sustainability goals: "Partnerships are the key to innovation. We’re proud to have found such a partner in Van Meer. Together we have what it takes to make every electrification project a success.” The combination of Alewijnse’s system integration expertise and Van Meer’s advanced drive technologies offers the maritime sector a one-stop shop for cutting-edge electrification solutions.
Watch the video about the collaboration: Click here