Grand Bahama Shipyard News

Construction and engineering company Orion Group Holdings announced it has been awarded a contract worth more than $100 million for the turnkey design-build of a replacement dry dock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard, situated in Grand Bahama, Bahamas.The scope of work includes marine works and infrastructure construction, dredging, creating new mooring facilities and providing enhancements to shore stability. In addition, Orion will modify and extend service piers for the installation of two cutting-edge floating dry docks, which are among the largest in the western hemisphere.

Ship repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) reports it has resumed its summer dry-docking program June 2, after a short period of lockdown as a result of COVID-19.A spokesperson for the shipyard told MarineLink that the yard had no COVID-19 cases but was partially shut for portions of April and May due to government imposed travel restrictions on the island. The yard focused on fabrication jobs and local clients with no travel history outside of the Bahamas before reopening in full at the end of May.The first vessels to arrive after the reopening were two Svitzer tugs…

After completing a new stateroom project onboard Carnival Elation during a dry dock in 2017 -- part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 ship enhancement program - ALMACO was again tasked with to deliver 30 new staterooms during an upcoming refit at Grand Bahama Shipyard in March 2020.ALMACO's scope of work involves the full turnkey outfitting of 30 new staterooms on deck 9 .

Freeport-based Grand Bahama Shipyard announced that it drydocked its first vessel since reopening the shipyard after Hurricane Dorian hit The Bahamas.The Taipei Trader, a 9,932-ton container ship operated by Lomar Shipping Limited, docked at the No. 3 dock this week, for its ongoing drydock, which was interrupted by the hurricane.Taipei Trader first docked at the yard on August 25 for a routine program including propulsion and thruster maintenance, and preparation of the hull for protective coating application. On August 30, in accordance with the shipyard's hurricane procedures, the vessel had to be undocked and depart the shipyard due to the projected path of Hurricane Dorian.Following the return and docking of Taipei Trader…

Post the departure from Grand Bahama Island of hurricane “Dorian” the most devastating storm to ever hit the Bahamas, Grand Bahama Shipyard confirms it will be ready to resume business on Wednesday September 11th, 2019.“There is no significant damage to the shipyard,” said Graham Couser, Vice President at the yard, “However, the island has suffered badly with personal tragedies and major infrastructure damages. As a business and community leader, it is our obligation to expeditiously return the shipyard…

The Boskalis semi-submersible heavy lift ship BOKA Vanguard successfully floated the cruise ship Carnival Vista aboard in order to facilitate repairs at a shipyard in the Bahamas.Royal Boskalis Westminster said in a press release that commencing last Saturday 13 July at sunrise the BOKA Vanguard loaded and lifted cruise ship Carnival Vista in a successful operation a few miles off the coast of Freeport, Bahamas.The loading operation including the re-float took twelve hours. The BOKA Vanguard then safely transported Carnival Vista to Grand Bahama Shipyard where repairs will take place whilst the cruise ship is resting on the BOKA Vanguard.Upon completion of the repairs…

Florida-headquartered Carnival Cruise Line has contracted the Dutch marine engineering company Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. to lift its cruise ship Carnival Vista out of the water onto the world’s largest heavy lift ship, Boka Vanguard, and transport it to Grand Bahama shipyard for a dry docking operation.The operation, the first of its kind in the world, will take place in the coming weeks in Freeport, Bahamas. The BOKA Vanguard is the world’s largest semi-submersible ship uniquely positioned to lift and transport extremely heavy cargoes in a dry and safe manner.Carnival Vista is the second largest cruise ship in the Carnival fleet with a capacity of nearly 4,000 passengers and a length in excess of 300 meters.

We visited Grand Bahama Shipyard CEO Dave Skentelbery, who updates us on his shipyard and the cruise shipping industry.How do you see the market today?In terms of the cruise ship market, it is very healthy. As a business, we are growing the amount of work we do on each of those projects. We’re doing more complex scopes of work. I think we’re truly demonstrating our capability as a project management company to the cruise lines.How do you evolve to more complex jobs?It’s investment in people and facilities.

Grand Bahama Shipyard announced today that its acting chief executive officer David Skentelbery will assume the role of CEO following approval from the ship repair yard’s board of directors.   Skentelbery has been with the company since January 2016, initially as chief commercial officer and more recently as acting CEO.   Skentelbery has worked in the marine industry for more than 40 years and has served in senior management roles and board positions both in shipping companies and shipyards globally.

The U.S. government has chartered another commercial cruise liner to serve as a floating hotel for relief workers in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Carnival Cruise Line said it reached an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will see the 2,052-passenger vessel Carnival Fascination docked in St. Croix to provide housing and meals for relief workers during a four-month charter from October 15 to February 3, 2018.

Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) said it has completed work on 30 commercial vessels within first half of 2017, predominantly comprised of companies returning to the yard with repeat business including tankers, bulk carriers, containerships, tugs, dive support vessels and drilling support vessels. In what is considered a volatile market, GBS said 2017 has been a great year for repeat customers, solidifying its position as a supporter of the major U.S. East Coast…

Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) informs its exclusive agency agreement in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg will continue, as PC Maritime Services’ new owner, Hilka Willms, takes the helm.    Upon the retirement of Hans Stoop, his successor Willms will maintain the continuity of GBS representation in BeNeLux.   Willms’ experience on both sides of the ship repair business started with a decade-long career at a ship repair yard in the Netherlands, followed by ship repair yard representation experience.

Grand Bahama Shipyard and L&R Midland (UK) Ltd have signed an exclusive agency agreement covering the U.K. markets effective June 1, 2017. Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) has engaged L&R Midland (UK) as its representative in the U.K. in what is expected to be an increasingly busy period due to approaching new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations that will require ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) and exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) retrofits.

Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) said it will complete work on 10 cruise vessels within first quarter of 2017. Scope of works included significant propulsion and technical systems overhauls, hull treatment, accommodations and public spaces upgrades and the addition of onboard attraction facilities. GBSL shared highlights of 10 of the 23 cruise vessels owned and/or operated by major players in the industry planned for dry-docking in the first quarter of 2017.

The Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) worked on 49 commercial vessels and 20 cruise ships throughout 2016, with scope of works ranging from major steel fabrication and repairs, to engine and technical systems overhauls, hull treatment and tank cleanings. And looking to 2017 and beyond, the yard reports it has a healthy order book, with docking periods secured as far ahead as three years. VShips USA brought two bulk carriers, CSL Acadian and CSL Argosy, to GBSL to do tank cleaning on both vessels. CSL Acadian also received extensive pipe work.

Caribbean ship repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) reported a busy 2016 for retrofit, refurbishments and repairs to vessels from the leading cruise lines. GBSL said it performed work on 20 cruise vessels during 2016, with scope of works included significant propulsion and technical systems overhauls, hull treatment, accommodations and public spaces upgrades and the addition of onboard attraction facilities. The trend continues: for 2017, GBSL has confirmed 23 cruise vessels scheduled for refit, refurbishment or revitalization from its customer base.

The largest shipyard in the Caribbean and Central America, Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBSL), has reopened for business after sustaining minor damages from Hurricane Matthew. Hurricane Matthew passed through Grand Bahama Island October 6, 2016 with winds up to 120 mph causing disruption and significant damage to the island’s infrastructure and the community in general. The yard reported minor damage, mainly to buildings and general property, and after a coordinated response effort is now clear and ready to safely accept vessels. Three vessels are scheduled to arrive for work on October 14, 2016.

MR spent time with Graham Couser, VP of Sales and Marketing, Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. (GBSL), for updates and insights on how this yard is faring in the current market and investing for the future. As the largest ship repair yard in the Caribbean, Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited, Couser said the yard is committed to continual investment based on customer’s needs, in markets good and bad. “The cruise market remains buoyant and upbeat with growth planned into the next few years,” said Couser.

Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL), a shipyard in the Caribbean, said it had a productive summer program consisting of work on vessels from the tanker, container and towage segments of the maritime industry. Additionally, renovations and upgrades were performed on the floating dry docks and workshops, all in conjunction with yard improvements in anticipation for a busy fall and winter work period. The summer saw the yard busy with repeat customers from respected players in the tanker, container and towage segments operating in the Caribbean region.

Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) has added three regional sales directors to its Marketing and Sales Division, with posts in the Americas, Europe and Asia/Middle East. According to the shipyard, their prime objectives will be to increase yard exposure, as well as develop future projects with existing and new customers for their refit, refurbishment or revitalization projects. Andre Szadzinski joined GBSL in August 2016 as Regional Sales Director for North and South America.

Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL), a Caribbean shipyard providing retrofit, refurbishment and revitalization to cruise and commercial vessels, has added four new positions to its executive team in 2016. Taking up the new executive positions are Ian Edward Ross, Don Keirce, Charles Nugent and Adrian Baboi. Ian Edward Ross joined GBSL July 2016 as VP of HSSEQ, bringing with him over 25 years’ practical experience delivering strategic and operational support to major organizations in the oil and gas, power generation and heavy construction and fabrication industries.

Spurred by Panama Canal Expansion and U.S. As Trinidad and Tobago seeks to diversify its economy, it is banking on a massive shipyard construction project as the centerpiece of a maritime industry and economic revival. A Trinidad and Tobago Parliamentary debate earlier this year centered on the Motion, ‘Increase of Loan Ceiling under The Development Loans Act.’ One diversification strategy involves the country’s thrust into the development and expansion of the maritime sectors, particularly Shipbuilding and Repair.

Repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) is in store for a busy year, with 20 cruise vessels booked for repair, maintenance and overhaul work in 2016. The scope of projects includes propulsion and technical systems overhaul, accommodations and public space upgrades and the addition of attraction facilities onboard. These vessels are typically booked at least two years in advance to allow for planning and communication between the yard and clients. The first cruise ship to enter GBSL’s dry-dock in 2016 is Holland America Line operated Maasdam…