Damen contracts Georg Fischer LATAM in Colombian frigate build
Georg Fischer LATAM employees get to work (Source: Damen)
Damen Naval has expanded local supplier involvement in Colombia after contracting Georg Fischer LATAM to supply plastic piping for the Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) programme. Under the project, a Damen SIGMA frigate will be built for the Colombian Navy by state-owned shipbuilder COTECMAR at its yard in Cartagena. The contract covers delivery of all plastic piping systems, associated tooling and on-site training for shipyard personnel.
Training will be delivered at COTECMAR by Georg Fischer staff already familiar with the facility. Jesús López Ribón, business development manager at Georg Fischer, said: “This project marks a milestone for the naval industry in Colombia. We are proud to contribute not only with high-quality products but also with technical expertise that will enable the Colombian Navy to operate at the highest standards.”
Damen Naval said the arrangement supports local content obligations while strengthening yard capability. Roxanne Bartelse, tactical buyer at Damen Naval, said: “This procurement contract helps sharpen local expertise while contributing to our local content obligations.”
A joint Georg Fischer and Damen Naval delegation recently visited the group’s headquarters in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to conduct quality inspections ahead of shipment of the first piping and tooling batches to Cartagena. Damen Naval also met Colombian suppliers at the Expodefensa exhibition in Bogotá in December 2025 to explore further local sourcing opportunities.
