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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Grand Bahama Shipyard Reports Commercial Success

Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.

August 1, 2017

(Photo: Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited)

(Photo: Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited)

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, Gulf and Caribbean operators and transporters, namely Crowley, OSG, Seabulk, Seaboard, Tropical, Trailerbridge and Tote.
 
The yard’s long-time, valued partner, Crowely Marine Services, Inc. will dry dock more than a dozen vessels in 2017. In January, GBS welcomed containership National Glory, and in March, works were completed on Barge 750 followed by Tug Legend. Four Crowley vessels, Tug Coastal Reliance, Tug Ensign, Barge 550-4 and Barge Miami all visited in April. Tug Liberty and Barge 750-3 were both in for their routine class surveys in May. Additional vessels from the Crowley Fleet are planned for dry dock throughout the remainder of 2017.
 
Similar on each dry-dock project were hull, deck and cargo tank blasting, including the application of high performance coatings; major technical projects including generator overhauls, gearbox overhauls, steel replacement in underwater areas, cargo tanks, ballast tanks. Pipe replacements was executed throughout and on multiple systems, electric motor overhauls and the support of the CPP propulsion system overhauls. Deck machinery, including deck cranes, were also overhauled.
 
In Dry Dock No 3, OSG Overseas Longbeach was dry for 10 days. The highlights of work included pipe replacements of over 300 m throughout, and on multiple systems. Electric motor overhaul on 14 motors and the testing and cleaning of approx. 190m³ within 14 tanks in five days. Complete hull treatment and application of high performance coatings concluded their dry dock program.
 
Polska Zegluga Morska PP returned to the yard with two bulk carriers. Raba in followed by the San. Both were docked in Dry Dock No.1 for propeller overhauls, minor engine work, seal renewals. The cargo holds received a comprehensive cleaning and coating. The major project on both vessels was complete hull treatment and application of high performance coatings.
 
Bibby Offshore Ltd. docked the diving support vessel Bibby Sapphire for an extensive 20-day work period on Dry Dock No. 1 in January. Works included steel replacement, tank cleaning and disposal of sludge, electric motor overhaul, pipe replacement, bow thruster overhaul and complete hull treatment concluded with the application of anticorrosive coating followed by two full coats of antifouling.
 
First time visitors, Chinese-owned BGP Pioneer managed by Thome Offshore Management and companion tug Supply II double dry docked on Dock No. 1 in February. Work completed to the research survey vessel Pioneer included extensive pipe work and complete hull treatment. Its companion tug Supply II received more extensive work to include tail shaft and propeller repairs, main engine renewals, extensive pipe works on several systems and complete hull treatment.
 
ARC vehicle carrier Resolve, received a main engine overhaul along with complete hull treatment to include UHP blasting followed by the application of owner-supplied coatings.
 
BF Ship Management GmbH & Co KG BF Ipanema, a containership, visited the yard in January for the overhaul of 29 shipside valves, renewal of ballast tank manholes, stern seal renewals and cosmetic polish of propeller blades. The hull was completely blasted using the yards UHP blasting equipment and owner-supplied coatings.
 
Columbus Ship Management container ship Monte Tamaro went dry in Dry Dock No. 3 in February for a 12-day work period. Works included the replacement of stern seals; removal of the propeller and blades. The rudder was removed for survey and was found to be in poor condition resulting in the procurement and fitting of a new rudder which required the support of the yard machine shop with shaft machining to finished dimensions. The yard supported owner’s technicians with thruster overhauls. UTM gauging of the hull was performed to accommodate class requirements, upon inspection of the results minor steel renewal was required. The hull was completely blasted using the yards UHP blasting equipment and owner-supplied coatings applied.
 
Dole Ecuador dry docked in late March for minor propeller repair.
 
Minerva Marine Inc. tanker Minerva Lydia berthed alongside the North Beach Pier for a two-week period in March to overhaul the main engine. This work was performed by the yard mechanics under the supervision of owner’s technical team.
 
In March MSC returned to the yard with their container ship Belle for minor repairs. The success of this project resulted in the award of the containership Michaela that visited the yard for a week-long dry dock period in June for work that included extensive pipe repairs to piping systems in the engine room using approximately 55 meters of galvanized steel pipe that was replaced in four days. Hull treatment included full UHP Blast followed by anti-fouling coating provided by International Paint. GBS assisted owner's appointed technicians with main engine and bow thruster overhaul, impressed current system overhaul and sea valve overhaul of approximately 50 valves.
 
GBS provided machine shop and mechanics assistance to Schottel engineers for thruster installation to Maritime Management Miami tanker Atlantic Sun in April. 
 
K & K Schiffahrts GmbH & Co KG containership the K-Breeze arrived in May. It was a project that engaged all the key trades with works including sea chests cleaning, inspection of sea valves, propulsion system maintenance of the tailshaft and replacement of stern tube seals; propeller inspection and dye penetrant testing of blade roots and tips. Bow thrusters were overhauled with all major seals renewed and the steering gear hydraulic cylinders were overhauled and seals renewed. On deck hatchcover seals were replaced and in the tanks cargo and ballast tank valves were repaired and five cases new valves were fitted. Hull treatment included HP wash to hull followed by one full coat of anti-fouling to flat bottom and two full coats of anti-fouling to vertical sides.
 
Kure Harbour, a bulk carrier operated by Kyowa Sansho, arrived in May for a comprehensive tank cleaning project, which included the removal of 119,000 gallons of crude. Other works included steel replacement in the cargo hold, ballast tanks, bilge overflow tank. 
 
Other major players returned to the yard for work this summer. They include: Ahrenkiel Steamship GmbH & Co Stadt Gotha, in May for CPP propeller and hub overhaul, Harren and Partners Paradero received a major tailshaft and CPP hab overhaul. Teekay Marine Singapore Keena was alongside for electric motor and valve overhaul.
 
Allseas Solitare’ visited in June. The yard was able to accommodate the removal of the Stinger to enable docking the vessel. The pipe-lay equipment was the major project and included hinge and bearing housing overhauls and repairs. The yard mechanical workshop was able to support the necessary machining operations for this overhaul work. While the vessel was in dock the critical path was the change-out of propulsion and positioning thrusters. Steel repairs on the main deck included the replacement of approximately 35 tons of AH36 steel.
 
“To meet the needs of our customers, we are dedicated to continual upgrades to our yard, and our services,” said GBSL VP Sales and Marketing, Graham Couser. “Last year significant investments included fcility upgrades and purchasing of new machinery and tooling adding to our workshops’ capabilities. We further expanded our facility with capital improvements to the North Beach Wharf. This year we are extending our South Beach and East Beach areas, plus developing a slops recovery system to support the demand of our tanker market.”

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