“I just think this is the best profession there is.”

As the grandchild of a shipbuilder, it was almost inevitable that Marcel would also enter the trade. As a child, he walked around the shipyard, among the wooden ships. “I just think this is the best profession there is,” says the Senior Engineer Electrics of De Vries Scheepsbouw Makkum.

But what exactly does that profession entail? “My specialty is automation on the bridge and in the engine room, but in the electronics department we shape all the electrics on a yacht. The engine room regulates energy management for the entire yacht, so the electrics have to meet many requirements. Basically, we work on the brain of the yacht. That brain looks different every time, because every client has different requirements. So every time you start from scratch, you build something from nothing. That's what I like about yacht building," Marcel explains. In addition, the wishes also change over time: “For example, we will soon be moving towards emission-neutral sailing. That's a very nice development.”

Most of the time Marcel is busy integrating various systems. “A power management system to which a navigation system is linked, for example. These are products from different suppliers, but they have to be able to 'talk' to each other. It is a challenge to organise that well, also because the technology is constantly changing. You really have to keep up with the times in this profession.”

“Building a yacht is an entire industry in miniature. In the beginning there is nothing and some time later you deliver a beautiful yacht with a whole team. In all the years I've been in this business, I've seen a lot of new stuff, but my favourites, I have to confess, are the classics. Basic, stylish and made of wood. Those are the best.”