ALASKA SHIP AND DRYDOCK

MARAD: $10m in Small Shipyard Grants Awarded

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $9.98 million in grants to 13 small shipyards throughout the United States to help modernize facilities, increase productivity, and help make the country’s small shipyards more competitive in the global marketplace. “These grants will help improve our ability to build and repair ships in the United States, strengthening our economy and helping position these small businesses and shipyard workers to be better prepared to win the future,” said Secretary LaHood. The U.S Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grants Program provides money to help this vital segment of America’s maritime industry invest in production equipment, provide technical skills training for employees, and maintain and create well-paying jobs by keeping these businesses competitive. “This money will help train workers and buy new tools and equipment,” said U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda.  “Having these essential needs taken care of will help these small shipyards be more productive, efficient, and able to sustain good jobs for American workers well into the future.” MARAD received over 118 grant applications requesting $105 million in assistance. The grants fund a variety of projects, including infrastructure improvements and modernizing equipment to increase the efficiency, competitive operations, and quality construction of vessels in U.S. shipyards.  

Capilano Designs 23-Car Ro-Ro Ferry

Capilano Maritime Design Ltd. has been awarded the design contract for a 23-car, 149-passenger Ro-Ro Ferry to replace the Bob Ellis currently being utilized by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough in Ketchikan Alaska. The vessel will be built at Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc., also located in Ketchikan. The new ferry will be delivered to the State of Alaska in 2011. Principal Particulars: Overall Length    116.5 ft Breadth        48 ft

Celebrity Zenith Arrives At Newport News

Celebrity Cruise Lines' vessel Zenith arrived at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) on October 18 for its bi-annual drydocking. Owned and operated by Miami, Fla.-based Celebrity, Zenith is in drydock at NNS for hull painting, survey and repairs as necessary for the propulsion system, sea valves, thrusters, stabilizers and hull anodes. Measuring 682 x 95 ft. (207 x 28.9 m), the 47,255-ton ship has been in service since 1992 - never docking anywhere but NNS since that time

Dubai Drydocks World Established

Dubai World has consolidated its drydocks and maritime business by bringing Dubai Drydocks, Al Jadaf Shipyard, Platinum Yachts FZ and Platinum Yacht Management under a single umbrella - Dubai Drydocks World (DD World), a statement said. Dubai World, which runs DP World, the world's third largest port operator, yesterday announced the establishment of Dubai Drydocks World (DD World) to consolidate the dry docks and maritime sector of the organisation

Keeping Vessels Moving in the Harshest Conditions

In Seward, Alaska, the rain and snow season starts in September and ends roughly seven months later in April. It is understandable, then, when D.J. Whitman of Seward Ship's Drydock and Ship's Chandlery talks about the shipyard's new covered area for its ship repair and conversion facilities, that there is a certain glee in his voice. "Covered ship repair facilities in (northern climate) European shipyards are pretty common, but not so in the U.S.," said Whitman

Malta Drydocks Loses $7M Conversion Contract

Hebridean Island Cruises has pulled out of a $7 million conversion contract with Malta Drydocks and awarded it to a British yard instead, the Malta company said on Tuesday. Scotland-based Hebridean had already issued a letter of intent in favour of Malta Drydocks for the conversion of a modern ship into an old style classic cruise liner, the Malta firm said. Malta Drydocks did not reveal the name of the U.K. yard or the name of the cruise liner

Drydocks World Dubai Wins SMEISA Award

Drydocks World - Dubai, the flagship ship repair, conversion and new building yard of Drydocks World has won the Ship Repair/Shipyard Award for the third time in a row at the 7th Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards (SMEISA) 2009. The award was presented to Nawal Saigal, Managing Director, Drydocks World - Dubai, by Christopher Hayman, Chairman, Seatrade, at a gala ceremony in Dubai. Drydocks World – Dubai has been investing in state-of-the-art technology and

Drydocks World Selects Foran

Drydocks World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, is an expanding international player in ship repair, conversion, new building and other marine related activities. Those in the Group at present include Drydocks World – Dubai, which is an amalgamation of Dubai Drydocks and Jadaf Dubai; Platinum Yachts FZCO and Platinum Yacht Management; Drydocks World – Singapore, formerly Pan United Marine and Drydocks World – Batam, a green field development in Indonesia.

Signal International Completes Mobile Yard Renovations

Signal International Inc. recently completed a $9m yard and drydock renovation on its ship repair facility in Mobile, Alabama.  Signal Ship Repair (SSR), the company’s most recent acquisition, is the flagship vessel repair and new construction division for ships, workboats, and tugs in the Signal family of yards.  The facility upgrade project was completed ahead of schedule and ready for the Transocean Deepwater Navigator

Drydocks World Allies with Ship Management Company

Drydocks World announced that an Alliance Agreement has been signed with EXMAR Shipmanagement Drydocks World, whose business is in ship repair, conversion and new building, has announced that it has signed an Alliance Agreement  with EXMAR Shipmanagement, a company that offers high-end ship management services to the maritime industry. The two companies hope to strengthen their relationship on the basis of the new Alliance Agreement