Richard Beards News

Gibraltar ship repair and conversion yard Gibdock said it recently hosted the Vulica Shipping Company-owned bulk carrier Donald M James for a 30-day project which brought a first opportunity to work with a new type of coating from GIT Coatings (Graphite Innovation & Technologies Inc).The 229-eterm-long ship entered Gibdock’s No.1 Dock for extensive works, including renewal to cargo holds, piping, thrusters, tail shafts and rudders. The yard also applied shipping’s first antifouling…

Mediterranean shiprepair facility Gibdock reports it completed a two-vessel drydocking and maintenance and repair project for Shearwater GeoServices.The Gibraltar-based repair and conversion specialist worked on the seismic research vessels Oceanic Sirius, drydocked for 14 days in Dock 1, and SW Empress, which remained in Dock 2 for 26 days before being moved to South Mole for testing and sea trials.Built in 2011 and sailing under the Norwegian flag, the 12,550-gross tonnage Sirius measures 106 by 28 meters and features solid streamer for accurate data collection.

Gibraltar’s Gibdock shipyard has completed a major conversion project so that the Baleària ferry Napoles can operate using LNG as fuel. The 186m long Napoles, which has capacity for 1,600 passengers and 1,430 lane metres of cargo, is the first of five ships that Baleària plans to convert to dual fuel operations to comply with IMO sulphur cap regulations. Gibdock has already secured a contract to convert a second vessel, Sicilia, which is due to arrive at the yard later this year.Richard Beards…

With owners required to respond to new rules on invasive species and emissions, Gibraltar-based Gibdock reports it is seeing a stronger than expected surge in interest in ballast water management system and exhaust gas scrubber work. Richard Beards, Managing Director of the Western Med’s gateway repair facility, attributes the upturn in inquiries to the yard’s enduring advantages of location, quality of work and on-schedule redelivery.“We have undertaken significant ballast water work over the last 18 months and in the first half of 2018 we have had more enquiries than ever before…

Gibraltar shipyard Gibdock said a surge in offshore vessel repair and maintenance work has included a special project for Norwegian offshore vessel owner and operator Solstad, to ensure that Normand Reach meets the hull cleanliness standards set by Australia’s National Biofouling Management Guidelines for commercial vessels. The 120.85-meter-long Solstad CSV entered the yard for a special wash and brush up on its way to Western Australia, where it has been reported as due to enter charter in the coming weeks to work in the Ichthys gas field development project.

A familiar cruise ship visitor has returned to Gibdock, with the Gibraltar yard undertaking exacting repair and renewal work on Thomson Majesty, the Thomson-operated luxury vessel owned by Louis Cruises. The project involved two weeks in Gibdock’s No. 1 dock for the 207m loa (41,000gt) vessel within a fixed schedule, after Thomson Majesty came off her summer port rotations, in preparation for her regular winter cruising duties. The vessel left the dock on November 18, before departing the yard on November 21.

Returning customers and a new client saw Gibdock prominent in the repair schedules of German ship managers in the first half of 2016, with sterling’s post Brexit depreciation also sharpening the Gibraltar yard’s competitive edge for the rest of the year. Seven German-owned or operated vessels have been repaired at Gibdock so far this year, including general cargo ships, container carriers, a reefer ship and a bulk carrier. With the exception of a first job for Bernhard Schulte, all projects have involved returning customers.

Simultaneous attention to four offshore support vessels at Gibdock demonstrates that the Gibraltar yard is now a regional hub for this specialized repair, maintenance and renewal work, operating as a base for mobilisation and de-mobilisation projects. Gibdock achieved its busiest month this year in the offshore market in June 2016, pressing home its strategic location and reputation for high quality, on-time redelivery, at a time when it is updating a series of management, safety and environment accreditations. Four offshore vessels were at Gibdock at the same time, highlighting its status as the ‘go to’ regional hub for OSV, seismic survey ship, dive support vessel, anchor handling tug supply ship, pipe layer and construction support vessel work, says Managing Director Richard Beards.

Gibraltar’s Gibdock shipyard has completed an extensive package of work on Solstad Shipping’s Normand Cutter. The 127m long, 10,979grt construction support vessel (CSV) left the yard on June 29th following a 22-day drydock programme, which included a comprehensive overhaul of its entire propulsion system. Norway-based Solstad has become a regular Gibdock customer, entrusting the yard with work on a number of high-tech offshore vessels over the past decade. The 2001-built Normand Cutter is in fact a repeat visitor to the yard, having previously docked at Gibdock in April 2011 for its last 5-year special survey. Gibdock managing director, Richard Beards, says: “We are delighted that such a well-respected, quality operator as Solstad has decided to come back to us once again.

Gibraltar’s Gibdock shipyard has completed its scope of work on Solstad Shipping’s Normand Cutter, a 127-meter-long, 10,979grt construction support vessel (CSV) that left the yard on June 29 following a 22-day drydock program, which included an overhaul of its entire propulsion system. According to Gibdock , torway-based Solstad has become a regular customer, entrusting the yard with work on a number of high-tech offshore vessels over the past decade. In fact the 2001-built Normand Cutter is a repeat visitor to the yard…

Gibdock's ro-ro and container ship repair work continues, following the drydocking of two con-ro vessels operated by Canadian shipowner, Oceanex. Oceanex provides intermodal transportation services to the Canadian Atlantic provinces of Labrador and Newfoundland. Gibraltar-based Gibdock was selected by St John’s, Newfoundland-based Oceanex to carry out wide-ranging work on the 2013-built, 1300 teu Oceanex Connaigra, and the 1977-built, 1125 teu capacity, Oceanex Sanderling. The 210m long…

Gibdock’s strategic location has been brought into sharp focus with the docking of HMS Scott, the largest vessel in the Royal Navy's Hydrographic Squadron, for a recent 19-day maintenance period at the Gibraltar yard. Work took place as part of the MOD UK’s Commercially Supported Shipping (CSS) Teams Through Life Support (TLS) contract with main contractor Babcock. The TLS contract, which runs to 2018, includes fleet time maintenance, design services and spares management. “Recent world events suggest that the Royal Navy will highly prize support from strategically-located facilities that can deliver vessels back into service on schedule and to high quality standards,” said Richard Beards, Gibdock Managing Director.

A surge in bookings by new and repeat customers into the first two quarters of 2016 suggest the strong performance registered by Gibdock in 2015 will continue next year. The Gibraltar-based repair and conversion yard enters its customary busy ferry season buoyed by repeat business from owners of a variety of ship types, and the completion of its first exhaust gas scrubber installation project. Dock 1, Gibdock’s largest drydock, is already fully booked until the end of February 2016. Customers new to Gibdock in 2015 are returning. Peter Döhle Schiffahrts recently followed up on its inaugural docking of the 1,730TEU capacity containership Amanda by booking two more - Cecilia and Xian.

Gibraltar-based ship repair company Gibdock informs it has built up a close working relationship with Solstad Offshore, with a number of the Norwegian operator’s specialist offshore craft being repaired at the yard over the past few years. This partnership was recently rekindled when a construction support vessel (CSV), the 5,000dwt Normand Pacific, arrived in Gibraltar for its first special survey. The 122-meter-long Normand Pacific, which was built at the Fosen shipyard in Norway in 2010…

Gibdock has officially opened its new ‘Pad 1’, a specialised area for land-based fabrication projects, to a busy workload. The 2,940m2 purpose-built pad offers an area of prime 12 tonnes per m2 load-bearing workspace to support the growing range of large and complex projects that are being attracted to the yard. “Pad 1 is a versatile facility with many applications”, says Gibdock Managing Director, Richard Beards. Gibdock provides the highest standard in shipyard services in one of the most strategic locations in Europe. Located in Gibraltar, between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and protected within a deepwater port, its capabilities include comprehensive repair, maintenance and conversion in three dry docks.

Gibdock has continued to see its stock rise amongst the German shipowner community over the past year. Indeed the Gibraltar ship repair yard’s recent client list reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of leading German shipowners and managers, underlining the fact that it enjoys a very positive reputation in this particular market. German owners and operators that have recently docked vessels at Gibdock include Oscar Wehr, Reederei üngerhans, E.Oldendorff, Peter Döhle Schiffahrt, Brise Bereederung, Asterion Tankers, Ahrenkiel, OPDR, Hans Peterson, John T. Essberger, Reederei Draxl, Columbia Shipmanagement, Thien & Heyenga, and Interorient.

Gibdock remarks it has continued to see its stock rise amongst the German shipowner community over the past year. Indeed the Gibraltar ship repair yard’s recent client list reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of leading German shipowners and managers, underlining the fact that it enjoys a very positive reputation in this particular market. German owners and operators that have recently docked vessels at Gibdock include Oscar Wehr, Reederei Jüngerhans, E.Oldendorff, Peter Döhle Schiffahrt, Brise Bereederung, Asterion Tankers, Ahrenkiel, OPDR, Hans Peterson, John T. Essberger, Reederei Draxl, Columbia Shipmanagement, Thien & Heyenga, and Interorient.

Gibdock says that its versatility has been in full demand across a wide range of vessel types in the year to the end of April 2014, proving, they say, that 'variety is the spice of life' for the geographically well-placed ship repair and conversion specialist. Visitors have included both conventional steel ro-ro and ro-pax ferries, as well as aluminium high speed craft, dredgers, tankers, containerships, yachts, seismic survey ships and offshore support vessels. In addition the yard docked the large cruise ship, Saga Ruby, for an extensive package of refurbishment works. “You can see we have had almost the full spectrum of vessel types in the yard,” says Richard Beards, Managing Director.

Gibdock completed a refit of the seismic vessel WG Cook for WesternGeco. WG Cook is one of six 12-streamer 3D seismic ships delivered to the owner in 2010. The 19-day project was completed on time and with no serious QHSE incidents in preparation for WG Cook’s deployment offshore Canada for a seismic survey. Gibdock allocated its largest drydock to the project, allowing a variety of yard equipment to be deployed simultaneously. The dock’s heavy lifting capability was also a factor, with one of its three cranes being occupied continuously by a 5m exhaust extension and main mast modifications.

Gibdock completes a refit of the 12-streamer 3D seismic vessel 'WG Cook' for WesternGeco. WG Cook is one of six 12-streamer 3D seismic ships delivered to the owner in 2010. The 19-day project was completed on time and with no serious QHSE incidents in preparation for WG Cook’s deployment offshore Canada for a seismic survey. “The project was awarded on a competitive tender basis, while the location of the yard is also favourable for this project,” says Mick Richardson, WesternGeco Fleet Technical Manager.

Gibraltar ship repair facility Gibdock say that it has been operating close to full capacity throughout 2013, with offshore sector business the main driver. "We have seen a number of high profile offshore vessel-operating customers returning. Repeat business from such demanding clients is a testament to our performance, with everyone from project planners and managers to yard craftsmen closely involved in ensuring we complete these complex jobs on schedule and to specification.

The 189-room five-star floating hotel Sunborn Gibraltar is due to welcome its first guests in February 2014, after Gibraltar shipyard Gibdock drew on its extensive cruise ship expertise to undertake hull blasting and coating work. Despite its role as a tourist and business travel destination Gibraltar does not have a five-star hotel. The 142m long, seven deck Sunborn Gibraltar resembles a sophisticated high-end cruise ship or mega yacht. However, while the vessel can move under its own power, it has been designed for sustained mooring alongside, and features its own heavy-duty mooring arms.

Saga Cruises has highlighted Gibraltar’s continuing attractions for cruise owners, returning to Gibdock for repair and maintenance work on one of the "grand old ladies" of the cruise industry, the 24,492grt, 670-passenger capacity Saga Ruby. Delivered by Swan Hunter in 1972 to Norwegian American Line as Vistafjord, the ship is the last cruise vessel built on the Tyne. Having previously docked Spirit of Adventure in 2011 for the same owner, the 13-day renewal Saga Ruby drydocking project required flexibility on the part of the yard…