Knight & Carver YachtCenter has acquired a 4,000-ton dry dock for its refit and repair operations. With the acquisition, financed by a locally-based investment group, Diligence & Company LLC, Knight & Carver will provide the largest lifting capacity for megayachts and commercial vessels on the West Coast, and one of the largest such lifts in the United States.
Knight & Carver will operate the dry dock, named Diligence, under an exclusive, long-term lease arrangement with Diligence & Company LLC, along with investment partner Fraser’s Services, a San Diego-based boat repair firm.
Full dry-dock operations are expected to begin by August. Knight & Carver already has secured a commitment for a significant megayacht refit project scheduled for August.
Knight & Carver estimates it will hire more than 100 additional workers over the next several months once the dry dock is under full operation.
The dry dock is able to accommodate vessels with a capacity of 4,000 tons, measuring up to 400 ft in length and 100 ft in width. It will be berthed at Knight & Carver’s docks, located on the southeast shores of San Diego Bay.
Most recently, Diligence lifted out the San Diego-based sailing ship Star of India for an extensive, eight-week repair project that included structural repairs and refurbishing, as well as hull and body paintwork.