Gibdock bookings surge for early 2016

Gibdock’s largest drydock, Dock 1, is already fully booked until the end of February this year.

“Containership work from German owners is a mainstay yard activity, but it is always pleasing when a first-time owner brings repeat business,” said Richard Beards, Gibdock managing director.

He continued: “Peter Döhle made it crystal clear that no delay would be acceptable with Amanda, as the vessel had to catch its next charter. Our team achieved the high standard in quality of work, as well as meeting the scheduling challenge; we pride ourselves on delivering vessels back to owners setting even the tightest deadlines.”

The repair and conversation yard has entered its busy ferry season buoyed by repeat business from owners of a variety of ship types. As well as the completion of its first exhaust gas scrubber installation project.

A notable returning customer last year was Van Oord, the vessel visited Gibdock for the third time in November. The 137m length trailing suction hopper dredger is undergoing a 35-day refit, including extensive steel work and large diameter pipe renewal, a complete overhaul of the vessel’s main engines, and hopper valve repairs including seal restoration.

Mr Beards added: “The second half of 2015 was exceptionally busy at the yard, having also included our first Exhaust Gas Scrubber retrofit – our largest single 2015 assignment.”

The yard is due to retrofit Alfa Laval PureSOx EGS units to the last of five vessels operated by Norbulk Shipping and owned by Vroon, in a contract which also includes the special survey drydocking of all five ships.

Gibdock’s strategic location was highlighted in the last quarter of 2015 with the docking of the Royal Navy’s Hydrographic Squadron vessel HMS Scott, in a 19-day refit.

“We go into 2016 having set down a marker that our strategic location provides a Southern European option for high quality and on-schedule SOx abatement technology retrofit work,” concluded Mr Beards.