Signal International Completes Mobile Yard Renovations

Signal International Inc. recently completed a $9m yard and drydock renovation on its ship repair facility in Mobile, Alabama.  Signal Ship Repair (SSR), the company’s most recent acquisition, is the flagship vessel repair and new construction division for ships, workboats, and tugs in the Signal family of yards. 

The facility upgrade project was completed ahead of schedule and ready for the Transocean Deepwater Navigator. The drillship has been at Signal’s Pascagoula yard for repairs and recently arrived at SSR’s Panamax drydock, for hull and tank repairs, thruster removal and repair, servicing of the main propulsion system and lower hull painting.  

The newly refurbished Panamax floating drydock has been certified for a lift capacity of 21,500 tons.  According to Bob Beckmann, senior vice president and general manager of Signal Ship Repair, “we completely overhauled the drydock.” Over 500 tons of steel were replaced on the well deck supporting structure and the wing wall plating with attached internal structure. The west end well deck apron was also renewed in its entirety and all exterior wing wall coatings were redone. The south wing wall crane had two new engines installed, all the steel cables on both cranes were replaced and both cranes were inspected, tested and annual certifications renewed. Additionally, the drydock slip was dredged to a depth of 52 ft to accommodate vessels up to 33-ft draft.

“With all these improvements and enhanced capability,” Beckmann said, “we are generating a renewed interest in the yard and will be able to pursue a variety of deeper draft vessel projects, U.S. Navy and drydock work in 2011 and beyond.” Besides the 21,500-ton deep draft Panamax, the full service shipyard has a 4,500-ton floating drydock, 100,000 sq ft covered fabrication area, a refurbished machine shop, covered panel line, and complete electrical and pipe shop.