Southern European ship repair
Navantia Shiprepairs Cádiz Bay reached the end of March 2024 having carried out repair work on six merchant vessels. Amongst them were two cruise vessels, cruiseships being a strategically important repair market for the yard.
Navantia welcomed the arrival of the Kerry, Spinola and Star Pride. Repairs were also completed on USNS Marie Tharp, Carnival Firenze and Boluda Fos. All the vessels were repaired at Navantia Cádiz except Boluda Fos and Spinola, which were drydocked in Navantia’s San Fernando facility.
One of the most outstanding jobs performed was the drydocking of Carnival Firenze. A large scope of work was carried out, including several painting and mechanical jobs in dock, in addition to providing support for the shipowner’s contractors.
The Cadiz Bay yard repaired seven merchant vessels in April, including five cruiseships. The visitors were Scenic Eclipse, Carnival Glory, L’Austral, Celebrity Equinox and Avemar Dos. Repair work was completed on Star Pride, Scenic Eclipse, Carnival Glory, L’Austral and Spinola, the latter in San Fernando’s drydock No.4.
Another outstanding job was the replacement of the bulbous bow on L’Austral. Also noteworthy is the drydocking of the Carnival Glory, which was in dock for a short time for mechanical work. Support was also given to the shipowner’s contractors.
Prefabrication work is being carried out on the wing stations for the Levante Jet which will be installed in the bridge when the ship arrives at the yard.
The bulbous bow on L’Austral was replaced in Navantia’ Cadiz yard
Cartagena repairs
Navantia Shiprepairs Cartagena focused its activity in March on the docking, repair and refloating of two civil vessels and five naval units.
The yard continued working on two mega yachts, one of which had been in the yard since last year due to the size and complexity of the project.
April saw Cartagena involved in the docking, repair and refloating of three commercial vessels and nine naval units.
The yard continued its work on three mega yachts, with one of the yachts leaving the yard in the middle of the month after the work on a five-year refit was completed.
Ferrol estuary repairs
Navantia Shiprepairs Ferrol Estuary completed Q1 2024 with March seeing the docking and/or repair of six commercial vessels and eight naval units.
The yard completed work on the LNG/FSRU Excelsior in the first quarter. The repair project started in the fourth quarter of 2023 and involved modification required to adapt it to its next FSRU activity. The vessel, after having undergone its docking in Ferrol drydock No.3, continued with minor work, adjustments and tests carried out alongside.
The Atlantic Merlin, which had started repairs in February, completed its docking in drydock No.2 in March and was delivered after additional work and tests were completed alongside.
The centre also undertook the repair of the vessels L’Audace in March, in drydock No.5 in Fene, and the LNG Arctic Discoverer, which was repaired alongside.
Alongside work on the life extension of LNG/FSRU Energos Freeze continued in March as programmed. It was being adapted for its next FSRU role.
The Brave Tern major modification project started in Q1 2024 with the first work being carried out alongside in Berth 11 in Fene. The vessel is scheduled to return at the end of Q2 to complete the project.
Brave Tern is a self-elevating and self-propelled jack-up offshore wind turbine installation vessel. This stage of the modification project included the removal of its 650-ton crane using a huge 3,000-ton mobile crane installed on the berth. A new 1,800-ton crane will be installed on the vessel in the final stage of the project. Brave Tern will also be drydocked for installation of structural modules that will increase its beam to improve its buoyancy and stability, thereby improving its operational capacity.
Navantia Shiprepairs Ferrol Estuary began the second quarter focusing on four commercial vessels and eight naval units.
Work continued apace on the Brave Tern, LNGs/FSRUs Excelsior and Energos Freeze. At the end of the month, the yard started the repair of the Sakura Belle, which was docked in drydock No.5 in Fene.
Cruiseships and ferries at Astican
Astican, a leading member of the Alimia shipyard group, stands out as a benchmark in the naval repair sector. Together with Astander and Astibal, forms a strategically-located shipyard group in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Astican), Panama (Astibal), and the northern coast of the Spanish mainland (Astander). This network of facilities offers a wide range of services, supported by strong alliances with major players in the sector.
“Specialised in highly specific repair projects, Astican is distinguished by its excellence in sector knowledge and expertise,” says Laura Rodriguez Izcoa, Marketing & Commercial Coordinator. “With a team of more than 1,000 highly skilled workers, they can manage large-scale projects quickly and efficiently. Their lifting platform capable of docking vessels up to 36,000dwt, along with nearly 1,000 linear meters of repair berth, provides secure sources to do it.”
Astican’s customer portfolio covers a wide range of vessels, from dredgers to cruiseships, and the yard has a consolidated reputation for serving shipowners worldwide. Beyond its prime location and state-of-the-art facilities, customers turn to Astican for its proven ability to tackle complex projects, having in the recent past been deeply involved in the oil and gas market.
“Astican embraces new challenges with a focus on environmental sustainability. Committed to protecting the marine environment, they are prepared to contribute to improving environmental protection measures in the naval industry,” says Izcoa.
Recent visitor
Among Astican’s recent achievements is the successful repair of the luxurious cruiseship Le Dumont-d’Urville from the French shipping company Ponant Cruises. During its stay at Astican’s facilities, several maintenance and repair jobs were carried out, including tank cleaning and painting, hull treatmentand propeller repair.
Additionally, Astican has played a key role in the preparation of oil rigs for operation in Brazil, showcasing the yard’s expertise in high-complexity projects.
Collaborations, such as the one with Fred Olsen Express in measuring the carbon footprint during the drydocking of the Bocayna Express catamaran, demonstrate the yard’s leadership in advanced environmental practices.
Astican measured the carbon footprint of the Bocayna Express catamaran during a recent drydocking
Good start at NavalRocha
“Navalrocha has seen a good start to 2024 with a large diversity in vessel types, and we are positive regarding the second part of this year,” says Sergio Rodrigues, Commercial Director at the yard. “We have already had three LPG vessels in the yard and potentially have two more coming later this year. Amongst reclassification work on the vessels, we blasted 100% of the hull and applied silicone-based paint on underwater areas. Part of the deck was also hydro-blasted.
“Our good client MM Marine visited us once this year with one of its bunker tankers, and we also had a visit from Rohde Nielsen Dredgers’ Viking R.”
A research vessel from Fugro and a stone carrier from Herbosch-Kiere NV were also visitors to the yard. “Seadream Yacht Club visited us with the Seadream I for extensive docking works, which tested the capacity of our steel department.”
Rodrigues told DryDock: “Our smaller docks have been bustling with river cruise and tugboats, ensuring a steady stream of business, and during the summer, two container vessels will visit us for major repairs, including hatchcover work. We are expecting the Portuguese Navy to visit us in the second half of the year with a sailing schooner conversion.”
Navalrocha has already had three LPG vessels in the yard this year
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