Damen signs steel supply deal with De Jong & Lavino for Colombia’s PES frigate

September 1, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Dutch shipbuilding major Damen Naval has signed a contract with compatriot steel supplier De Jong & Lavino for the delivery of all steel materials needed to build the PES (Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie) frigate for the Colombian Navy.

The PES frigate, based on Damen’s SIGMA 10514 design, is being constructed locally at COTECMAR’s shipyard in Cartagena. The agreement between COTECMAR, Damen Naval, and De Jong & Lavino reflects Damen Naval’s strategy of combining international expertise in design, supply chain, and project execution.

Under the contract, De Jong & Lavino will supply around 1,325 tonnes of steel plates and profiles, shipped in batches from the Netherlands to Cartagena under a Cost and Freight (CFR) arrangement. Running from 2025 to 2027, the deal simplifies the supply process by consolidating all steel requirements into a single agreement. The phased deliveries are carefully aligned with COTECMAR’s production schedule to ensure smooth construction progress.

“This is a great step forward, as De Jong & Lavino will be providing the steel materials required to start construction in Colombia,” said Jasper Oreel, Project Director at Damen Naval.

“All stakeholders are eagerly working towards PES taking shape.”

“We started talking about this project a few months ago in confidence. As ‘The one stop steel supplier’, this Naval project shows the strength of our company. We are proud of our people and of the commitment they showed. The strength of our companies combined will be a good marker for the future,” Martijn Lukassen, COO of De Jong & Lavino, added.

The frigate is part of the Colombian Navy’s Plataforma Stratégica de Superficie (PES) program, initiated in 2015 to replace the country’s Padilla frigates and upgrade its maritime capabilities. The vessel will have a length of 107.5 meters and a beam of 14.02 meters. The first PES frigate is scheduled to be delivered to the Colombian Navy in 2030.

Recently, Damen selected Norwegian equipment supplier Kongsberg Maritime to provide propulsion systems for the PES frigate.