Port Weller Drydocks News

Changes in the international political and economic climate will add new urgency to the theme of the Shiprepair & Conversion 2001 conference in London in November — gaining the edge in a competitive global industry. Marking the 10th anniversary of the event, the conference takes place alongside the industry's leading exhibition in the Grand Hall, Olympia, on November 28-29. A new pick-and-mix booking format offers cut-price entry to one or more of the four morning and afternoon sessions — giving delegates, exhibitors and visitors more scope to take part in both the conference and trade show, which will feature a record 360 exhibitors.

Algoma Central Marine has awarded a $5.5 million contract to Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering for the conversion of a single-hulled tanker, 431 ft. (131.5 m) M.V. Algoeast, to double-hulled construction at its Port Weller Drydocks facility. The project, which is the first type of conversion ever to be done at a Canadian shipyard, will commence this December and expects to employ about 100 shipbuilders through the winter.

Currently, Marcon International, Inc., the ship sale & chartering firm, has 62 inland tank barges available for sale, down from 124 in June 1996. Most of these are typical U.S. inland river units of approximately 30 years of age (vs. an average active U.S. inland fleet age of 24 years). Marcon also has listed and available for sale a total of 41 ocean and coastwise barges compared with 50 in June 1996. Most of these are older single skin units. Even with OPA 90 retirement dates approaching and double skins being built, the firm reports not seeing any great numbers of U.S. single hull tank barges coming on the market - especially from the ocean and coastal fleets. There is a wide split in price ranges for those vessels for sale.

The past decade was a tough one for the Canadian shipbuilding market. It was a decade that produced a decline of both employment and decline of newbuilds, many of which were contracted in the late 1980s still awaiting construction. This unfinished business was concentrated mostly on various military projects that had been thought out but were never actually followed through. It is estimated that by the time the 1990's came to a close that Canadian yards had experienced the worst decade since postwar times with total sales declining by about 50 percent since 1991. In addition, total employment in the industry has broken off by about 50 percent from 12,000 workers in 1990 to today's figure of 5,000.

The largest-ever Canadian ship built for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence was blessed at a ceremony last June at the Lake Ontario entrance to the Welland Canal at Port Weller Drydocks. The vessel is the newest member of the Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) fleet, and the first of a trio of ships to be constructed by Port Weller as part of a $100 million fleet reinvestment program by CSL. Measuring 740 x 78 x 48, the newbuild required more than 6,000 tons of steel. This grand project also included the construction of a new hull, which was joined to the engine room portion of the J.W. McGiffin. Featuring the most advanced self-unloading system available, the Niagara is the premiere ship to be built to the St. Lawrence Seaway's new maximum-size allowances.

With 1,860 miles of waterways, our neighbors to the north are no slouches in the maritime industry. In fact, Canadian maritime companies continue to offer technological and operational innovation. The Canadian coastline stretches out 151,492 miles, making it the second largest country in the world. Canada not only supports a thriving maritime industry, with exporting ships carrying timber, crude petroleum, natural gas and aluminum, but the country is also home to a variety of companies providing the means to allow these vessels to run smoothly and efficiently. In St. Catherine's, Ontario, Port Weller Drydocks is known for its extensive knowledge of engineering connecting the design, installation and testing aspects of inter-disciplinary projects.