Graving Dock News

Earlier this week, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro along with U.S. Representatives Rob Menendez and Mikie Sherrill visited to Bayonne Dry Dock & Repair Corp. (BDD).As the U.S. places renewed emphasis on navy shipbuilding and ship repair, the SECNAV has made it a point to visit to naval bases, shipyards, depots, training ranges, tarmacs, and runways worldwide to witnessed firsthand the progress being made toward improving training, readiness, and modernization of the fleet and force.BDD has provided repair services to vessels ranging from small tugboats to U.S.

The U.S. Navy's engineering systems command has awarded a $2.8 billion contract for the construction of a new concrete dry dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF).The $2,839,880,250 firm-fixed-price task order, which falls under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract, was awarded by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Pacific to a joint venture between Dragados, Hawaiian Dredging and Orion. Four…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grant awards to 24 small shipyards in 19 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.The funds will help awardees—many of which being family-run businesses—modernize, increase productivity and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace, MARAD said.“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in America’s maritime industry, helping us get the goods we depend on every day,” said U.S.

Louisiana shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards has been awarded a contract to build the multi-mission dry dock caissons at the U.S. Navy's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Maine, the U.S. Department of Defense said on Monday.Under the $33,704,757 firm-fixed-price contract, Bollinger will provide two graving dock caissons at PNSY for Dry Dock #1N and Dry Dock #1W. Caisson construction includes steel fabrication, installation of mechanical and electrical systems, and a full testing…

Scottish regional development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), has approved an investment of up to £8.3m in Scottish Government funding for an £18.9m project to develop the East Quay at Global Energy Group's Port of Nigg facility.The project is aimed at helping the Highlands and Islands economy benefit more from the growth in renewable energy development, as well as meeting the needs of GEG's existing clients.Once completed, the new facility is projected to bring…

The first new U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in more than 35 years was launched at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. on December 17.Scheduled for completion in mid-2022, the Interlake Steamship Company's new River-Class, self-unloading bulk carrier Mark W. Barker is believed to be the first ship for U.S. Great Lakes service built on the Great Lakes since 1983.Measuring 639 feet long, 78 feet wide and 45 feet tall, with a deadweight of 28,000 tons…

A keel laying ceremony on Tuesday marked the official start of assembly on the first new U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in more than 35 years.During the ceremony held by The Interlake Steamship Company and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, (FBS) the keel was laid within the shipyard’s large graving dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. following more than nine months of engineering and prefabrication work of its modular sections by the FBS team.Though the build project is already well underway…

Along the 1,600-mile, ice gray arch of the St Lawrence Seaway, the 2020 Great Lakes commercial shipping season will lurch back to life on March 25 when the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. reopen.The ceremonial opening signals a passage with passable ice and the 114th Great Lakes season for its fleet of 45 venerable lakers. Most of these huge self-loading freight haulers are at least 50 years old, rust free, and fit; American steel sailing on a freshwater sea.To handle Great Lakes cargo…

Bayonne Drydock & Repair in Bayonne, NJ, reported brisk business in 2019, with the BDDRC floating drydock and graving dock in use approximately 98 percent of the time, according to Bob Magas, General Manager Commercial Operations, BDDRC. Driving business was a variety of topside repair projects with existing clients, as well as three “successfully completed MSC vessel drydockings, on time and on budget,” according to Magas. This trio of jobs was enhanced as BDDRC “engineered and installed a roller fendering system in our graving dock,” said Magas.

Halifax Shipyard has commenced initial builder’s sea trials for Canada’s lead Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Harry DeWolf.The lead AOPS departed Halifax Shipyard at 0945 and, using its diesel-electric engines, moved to the Bedford Basin to start initial builder’s sea trails associated with anchor handling, the integrated bridge and navigation system (IBNS), fin stabilizers, Multi-Role Rescue Boat (MRRB) launch and recovery, and communication systems.Initial builder’s sea trials will continue over the next few weeks and will be followed by formal sea trials and acceptance by the Royal Canadian Navy. This will span into the first quarter of 2020.At 103 meters and 6…

The Royal Canadian Navy’s second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, was launched yesterday, Nov. 10, 2019, at Halifax Shipyard.The launch of the second of six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, marks a significant milestone for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy’s combatant fleet.The 103-metre future HMCS Margaret Brooke transitioned from Halifax Shipyard’s land level facility to a submersible barge on Nov. 8, 2019 and launched in the Bedford Basin today.The ship is now pier side at Halifax Shipyard where work continues to prepare the ship for sea trials and handover to the Royal Canadian Navy late next year.The future HMCS Margaret Brooke joins Canada’s lead AOPS…

ALE, a solution provider for heavy transport and lifting, completed the launch of the first ever submarine to be locally-assembled and launched in South East Asia.According to a press release, the KRI Alugoro (405) submarine was the final vessel to be commissioned as part of a $1.2 billion contract between Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence for three diesel-electric submarines.Following the successful completion of the Alugoro, DSME and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence signed a contract for a further three submarines.The KASEL 3 submarine, weighing 1,331 tons, had to be loaded-out onto a barge, towed to a dock, transferred to a floating dock, then a pontoon, before eventually being launched.

As of June 1, 2019, Bludworth Marine, LLC has relocated their corporate headquarters to Galveston, Texas. The new location, at 320 77th Street, is minutes from the Bludworth Marine 100' x 300' graving dock location and the Port of Galveston Pier 38 dockside location. This proximity will allow quicker response and service to the continually increasing marine repair service business in Galveston and surrounding areas. The new 3.5-acre site location also includes a 75' x 150' high bay fabrication shop with a 10-ton overhead crane…

Oresund Dry Docks: The Biggest Shipyard in SwedenWhile shipbuilding and ship repair has largely exited the European stage for Far East locales, shipyards such as Oresund Dry Docks in Landskrona, Sweden, maintain a healthy workload. Magnus Malmström, Oresund Dry Docks’ Sales Manager said in a recent interview with Maritime Reporter that Oresund is the largest yard left in Sweden, dedicated to conversion and repair, since 1915. While it was involved in the newbuild business to the 1980s, its business today is dominated by passenger, RoPax and tanker repair and conversion business.

The Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montreal, arrived at Halifax Shipyard for a 53-week docking work period (DWP) that includes routine maintenance and upgrades to ensure the ships longevity.More than 400 Halifax Shipyard employees will work on HMCS Montreal DWP, including apprentice and journeyperson crane operators, electricians, engine fitters, ironworkers, joiners/stagers, labourers, material handlers, pipefitters, riggers, and welders, who are members of Unifor Local 1.HMCS Montreal is the third consecutive Halifax-class frigate from the Navy’s east coast fleet to enter the Halifax Shipyard’s graving dock for a DWP since 2016.

More than $20 million in grant funding has been awarded to support capital improvement projects at 29 small shipyards in 22 states across the U.S.The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program, supports capital improvements that foster increased efficiency and economic growth.“These grants are an investment in our country’s small shipyards and will help create good jobs for America’s workers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L.

Bob Kunkel needs no introduction to Marine News readers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Logistics Professional magazine and of course, Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy…

The Royal Australian Navy’s replenishment capability is operating at capacity once again with HMAS Sirius back in the brine after four months of maintenance at Captain Cook Graving Dock, Garden Island. The fleet tanker cut an impressive figure against the city skyline as she sailed out of Sydney Harbour and into the Pacific Ocean for sea trials recently. She will return to Sydney briefly to take on bulk fuel at Gore Cove before commencing her transit home to Rockingham, Western Australia. It will be the first time a Navy tanker has ‘bunkered’ fuel at Gore Cove since HMAS Westralia did so in 1993. The crew of 73 are looking forward to the upcoming increase in pace. “We are excited about getting Sirius back to sea to do our job”, said Ship’s Warrant Officer Dale Young.

In 2009, Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri S.p.A, purchased the assets of the Manitowoc Marine Group; which included Bay Shipbuilding Company. Located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Bay Shipbuilding was the “feather in the cap” with their long history in U.S. commercial shipbuilding and repair. Can you share with us your background and area of responsibility? I’ve been the Vice President and General Manager of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding since assuming the role in August of 2012.

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.

The 35-meter-long, 900-ton outer caisson at the Port of Durban’s Prince Edward Graving Dock has now been commissioned after being refurbished at a cost of R30 million. This was the third and final phase of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) comprehensive repair program on the structure which was deemed unsafe and in need of repair. Work involved structural repairs to the first of two steel lock gates that separate the dock into two compartments and seal off water from the harbor to enable repairs and maintenance work to be carried out on ships serviced at the facility.

Yacht service, refit, repair and maintenance yard Marina Barcelona 92 (MB’92) has awarded a contract to Pearlson Shiplift Corporation (PSC) for the design and supply of a new ship lift and transfer system as part of an expansion project underway at its Barcelona shipyard. The yard’s new ship lift system will benefit from PSC technology originally established in 1957 with the invention of the Syncrolift system by Raymond Pearlson and its subsequent development worldwide. Expertise accumulated over more than 50 years is now vested in PSC under the direction of Douglas Pearlson…

Yacht service, refit, repair and maintenance yard Marina Barcelona 92 (MB’92) has awarded a contract to Pearlson Shiplift Corporation (PSC) for the design and supply of a new shiplift and transfer system as part of an expansion project underway at the Barcelona shipyard. The first phase of the Shiplift project will provide a platform of 81 meters by 20 meters with the capability to lift and transfer mega yachts of up to 105 meters length. The system is designed to enable future increases in length and capacity for mega yachts of up to 120 meters length.