Ship Repair Facility News

Barnard Joins Gibdock as Commercial Director

Gibraltar ship repair yard Gibdock announced the appointment of John Barnard as its new Commercial Director.Barnard brings to the role over 15 years of experience in the shipbuilding and repair business, with a career marked by diverse roles, encompassing technical, commercial and production functions across both defense and commercial markets.A graduate from the University of Southampton with a Masters in Ship Science in 2008, Barnard began his career as a naval architect at Cammell Laird in the U.K.

Orion Wins Contract to Replace Dry Dock at Grand Bahama Shipyard

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.

Murdaugh Resigns as Austal USA President

Rusty Murdaugh has resigned as president of Austal USA effective August 30, 2023, the Mobile, Ala. based shipbuilder announced.Murdaugh was named president in September 2021 after serving as acting president since February 2021. During his tenure Austal USA completed the addition of steel shipbuilding capability to its Mobile shipyard, and opened a waterfront ship repair facility in San Diego.Michelle Kruger, Austal USA vice president of global services and support, has been named acting president until a successor is named.

US Shipyards Investing to Add Serious Lifting Power

Shipyards across the U.S. are investing in new equipment to increase lift capacity, opening up the door for more projects and improved efficiency.Southern California-based Marine Group Boat Works, which performs a mix of yacht, commercial and government vessel repair work, in 2022 repowered its 665-ton Marine Travelift mobile boat hoist—the largest on the West Coast—with a Tier 4 John Deere engine. And earlier this year it was awarded a MARAD Small Shipyard Grant worth more than…

Work Starts on New Navy Floating Dry Dock

Austal USA began construction on the Navy’s Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM) at the company’s Gulf Coast ship manufacturing facility last week. AFDM is the third program to begin construction on Austal USA’s steel assembly line following T-ATS 11 and 12 - the first two of four U.S. Navy Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) ships the company is under contract to build. The AFDM is a “Rennie”-type floating dry dock which means it has continuous wing walls and several sectional…

Tall Ship Topples Over in Drydock

A 112-year-old tall ship has toppled over during a drydock maintenance period in South Africa.The Netherlands-registered Europa fell over during an attempt to transfer the steel-hulled barque back into the water from drydock at a Cape Town ship repair facility, leaving one crewmember with minor injuries."The injured sailor is receiving the necessary medical care and is doing well, given the circumstances," the ship's operator Bark Europa said. "He is currently in stable condition…

Strategically Located, Guam's Defense Posture is Growing

With the rise of China and her global ambitions, the military importance of Guam in the Indo-Pacific theater has become apparent. The force levels on the island had drawn down from a peak of about 26,000 at the height of the Vietnam War to a tenth of that—just 2,500 people in the early 2000s. Today, that's changing. Guam's defense posture is growing.Guam's proximity to major population centers in East Asia underscores its strategic importance. The island is just 1,400 miles from Tokyo, Manilla or Port Moresby. All of the armed services have a presence on Guam.

BAE Systems Breaks Ground on Jacksonville Repair Yard Upgrades

BAE Systems held a groundbreaking ceremony officially kicking off a program to upgrade its ship repair facility in Jacksonville, Fla.As part of the $200 million modernization, the company will add a Pearlson Shiplift and land-level repair complex that will boost flexibility and expand the shipyard’s docking capacity by 300%. Located two miles from the Atlantic Ocean, at the intersection of the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair provides repair…

Austal USA Opens San Diego Ship Repair Facility

Austal USA celebrated the opening of its new San Diego waterfront ship repair facility.The shipyard, located adjacent to Naval Base San Diego, will provide full-service repair, maintenance and modernization services for small surface combatants, unmanned and autonomous vessels, and auxiliary ships.Since finalizing an agreement for the property over a year ago, Austal USA has invested more than $100 million in facility upgrades and a new floating dry dock to transform the facility. The 15-acre site now provides 678 ft. of improved San Diego Bay shoreline, 80,000 sq. ft.

New Shiplift Will Expand Capacity & Flexibility at BAE Systems Jacksonville

BAE Systems announced it will spend $200 million for upgrades aimed at increasing capacity and flexibility at its Jacksonville, Fla. ship repair yard. The investment covers the preparation, construction, procurement and installation of a modern Pearlson shiplift and land-level ship repair facility, giving the yard the capability to service a greater number of vessels more efficiently.Located two miles from the Atlantic Ocean, at the intersection of the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway…

US Navy Taps Austal for Littoral Combat Ships Maintenance in Western Pacific

Austal USA has won a US$72.5 million contract with the US Navy to perform maintenance on Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the countries and ports in the region.The contract value could increase to US$215.9 million if options for further periods contained in the contract are exercised by the US Navy.Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Patrick Gregg said building Austal’s support business has been "a key plank" of the company’s growth strategy…

In the Shipyard: Austal USA Opens Ship Repair Business in Mobile

Known best for its construction of U.S. Navy warships, Austal USA in September 2020 acquired waterfront property along the Mobile River and established a commercial ship repair facility. Mike Bell, Austal’s VP Operations and Harley Combs, Director, Austal West Campus Ship Repair discuss the plan. Austal USA’s long-established shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala., is a modern ship manufacturing factory, one of the largest aluminum warship builders in the world producing new ships for the U.S. Navy.

Austal USA Sets Up Ship Repair Yard in Alabama

Following the acquisition of additional waterfront along the Mobile River in September 2020, Austal USA reports it quickly established a ship repair facility that has had a booming response.“Almost immediately after word got out Austal USA had purchased the additional waterfront property, we were inundated with calls from commercial captains looking to return to Mobile to have their ships serviced,” Austal USA’s Senior Vice President of Operations Mike Bell said.Austal’s acquisition included 15 acres of waterfront property spanning almost 3…

Austal USA Awarded LCS Maintenance Contract

The U.S. Navy awarded Austal USA a sustainment execution contract (SEC) for repair, maintenance and modernization of all Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) homeported in San Diego. This includes all Austal-built Independence-variant LCS as well as the west-coast based Freedom-variant LCS.The SEC West award will enable the company to further expand its current San Diego service center while offering a greater range and depth of support available to the U.S. Navy. Austal USA is also expanding…

Guam Shipyard Settles EPA Pollution Violations

Ship repair yard Guam Shipyard will pay nearly $70,000 and take measures to improve its facilities following multiple pollution violations discovered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2018.The EPA said on Tuesday its settlement with Guam Industrial Services, Inc., doing business as Guam Shipyard, includes a $68,388 penalty as well as mandatory installation of preventative measures to reduce the discharge of stormwater pollutants into Apra Harbor.Guam Shipyard operates a ship repair facility on Cabras Island in Piti…

US Coast Guard Cutter Docks in Japan After Shipboard Fire

A fire-stricken U.S. Coast Guard cutter docked in Yokosuka, Japan Tuesday for inspection and possible repairs days after an onboard blaze left five crew members with minor injuries.Black smoke was reported on the cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) at 5:18 p.m. (local time) on Sunday while the ship was on deployed within the U.S. 7th Fleet's area of operations, the Coast Guard said.Onboard crews were able to contain the flames in the ship' exhaust stack and nearby spaces, and all fires…

Guam Shipyard Ordered to Control Pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Guam Shipyard to obtain a stormwater discharge permit and to achieve compliance with the Clean Water Act for discharges of pollutants into Apra Harbor, Guam.“Ship repair facilities must have stormwater pollution controls to protect coastal ecosystems,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “This order will prevent pollution from reaching Apra Harbor.”Guam Shipyard operates a ship repair facility on Cabras Island in Piti, Guam. It has operated industrial activities, including boat repair, sandblasting, high pressure washing, painting and material storage since at least January 2016.EPA inspected the facility on September 2018 and found multiple violations of the Clean Water Act.

Shipyard Report: Detyens Shipyards

In a world driven by the dollar sign, D. Loy Stewart, Jr., owner and president of Detyens Shipyards missed the memo. Make no mistake, Stewart is steadfast to deliver on-time, excellent service to Detyens’ broad array of ship repair clients, from government to commercial, both foreign and domestic. He understands that a ship in his yard is not making its owner – his client –  money, and he is laser focused on keeping his clients happy, returning ships to service on time, on budget. But Stewart is driven by a calling larger than profit margin, building a successful U.S.

Insights: Gavin Higgins, CEO, Everett Ship Repair

Everett Ship Repair (ESR) is a relatively new name in the U.S. ship repair business. Established in October 2019, the Pacific Northwest shipyard is owned by Ice Cap Holdings, LLC, which is also the parent company to another shipyard not too far away: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB).Both ESR and NBBB are headed up by CEO Gavin Higgins, who is responsible for the development of new business opportunities and cultivation of new business relationships, including working with industry groups…

Nakilat Reports 9% Profit Jump in Q1

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), a shipping and maritime company with the world's largest LNG shipping fleet, reported a 9 percent increase in profit for the first quarter of this year ended March 31, 2019.Nakilat reported a net profit of 236 million Qatari Riyals ($64.8 million) which compares to 217 million Qatari Riyals reported in the corresponding quarter in 2018."This increase was mainly due to the acquisitions of two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers and one Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in 2018, and higher volume of projects at Nakilat’s ship repair facility. The achievement of positive results across its operations is also attributed to the rationalization of operational expenses and enhanced operational efficiency…

ASCO Shipyard Overhauls Turkmen Ship

“Bibi-Heybat” Shipyard of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) has overhauled the towing-supply vessel “CM. Rahil” owned by Turkmenistan. ASCO claimed that the overhaul was completed on time and with high quality.According to a press release, the main and auxiliary engine coolers, air pipes, engine generators, the electrical engine of auxiliary steering unit was repaired at the plant in the course of the works, and the testing of crane-beam of the lifeboat was undertaken.Along with this, the windlass unit located in the bow of the vessel has been overhauled; the hydraulic systems of the towing winches were replaced with the new ones.

Albwardy Damen Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

Albwardy Damen celebrated its tenth anniversary on November 15th by officially opening its new ship repair facility at Dubai Maritime City (DMC). Over 100 guests from both the regional maritime industry and the Dubai government joined the Albwardy Damen management team at their new DMC workshop and Dubai HQ for the opening ceremony, followed by lunch on board the famous Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) ocean liner. Albwardy Damen is a joint venture between Albwardy Marine Engineering and the Damen Shipyards Group…

India's Jal Marg Vikas Project on River Ganga on Full Steam

Even as the work on the development of Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on River Ganga is going on in full steam, a team of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) held a two day long intensive advocacy and communications outreach at Sahibganj and Rajmahal in Jharkhand. JMVP is India's prestigious development of waterways.The public meetings are being held as part of a month-long dialogue initiative on the entire stretch of JMVP (Varanasi to Haldia) that began in July.The IWAI is constructing a INR 280. 90 crore (USD 41 mln) multi modal terminal at Sahibganj in Jharkhand besides a proposed ship repair facility and a freight village.