Bahamas yard to open January

A new shiprepair yard will commence operations in the Bahamas in January 2000. A 35,000tl, 280 x 35.5m floating dock is already en route to the islands, and a newbuilding order for a second, larger unit will be placed shortly.

The new yard, a 60/40 partnership between the Grand Bahamas Port Authority and German shiprepair yard Lloyd Werft, represents an investment of $75 million. It will target the cruise ship market and other tonnage trading in the region in competition with yards from the US Gulf, Mexico and other Caribbean states. ?The cruise market will provide a good base load, but we will also be looking for work on container ships, tankers and other tonnage,? explained Lloyd Werft managing director Werner Lueken.

A core team is being sent over from Bremerhaven for the start up, and labour will be drawn from the local area, where a substantial training programme is planned. Marketing will be handled through Lloyd Werft?s existing agency network.