Vigor expands into Alaska


Vigor Industrial is further extending its network of repair yards in the Pacific North West region of North America.


Ketchikan. Subject to approval by the Alaska Industrial Development Authority which owns the Ketchikan Shipyard where ASD is based, and which it operates under a 30 year agreement, Vigor hopes to conclude the transaction by the beginning of March 2012. Vigor already owns and operates


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shiprepair facilities across the Pacific North West, in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bremerton and Port Angeles, with its regional presence having been strengthened through the purchase of the Todd Pacific Shipyards business in February 2011. Vigor believes its ownership of ASD will improve the competitiveness of the Alaskan yard, allowing the company to participate in new markets which are opening up in the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. ASD, which has two drydocks with capacities of 10,000dwt and 2500dwt, already has a significant and loyal clientele which use the yard for maintenance and repair work primarily. Vigor spokesman, Steve Hirsh, says:


“Tis will be our seventh location in the Pacific Northwest and will allow us to serve our customers, from Oregon into Alaska and beyond, even better than we can do now.” Te past year has been a period of strong


growth for Vigor, whose subsidiaries drydocked more than 120 vessels in 2011. Projects included major conversions for commercial fishing, cargo ships and barges, as well as significant overhauls to several Washington State and Alaska Marine Highway System ferries. On top of this the group handled a large amount of work for Naval, Coastguard and other governmental agencies, largely through its Vigor Shipyards subsidiary. Key commercial projects undertaken


during the year included a major upgrade of the factory trawler Ocean Pace. Sponsons, fabricated onsite at the Portland yard by Vigor Industrial sister company, US Fab,


igor Industrial has announced its intention to acquire Alaska Ship and Drydock (ASD) in


The Alaska


Drydock facility, with computer generated images showing planned expansion work.


were added, as well as a bulbous bow and bow thruster, to enhance manoeuvrability. As part of the project Vigor removed


and discarded the forward bow sections, shelter deck bulwarks and the existing side shell where the sponsons were added. Concrete and foam was removed from the bottom of the hold as well as lead ingot ballast from the hold and aſt voids. Lead ballast was then reinstalled in the forward part of the vessel and the new sponsons were installed outboard of the existing hull. Te yard also rearranged piping, installed a new incinerator and fitted an emergency generator and other associated systems. Te cargo vessel Coastal Progress was


also upgraded for Coastal Transportation, initially by adding a 6.7m stern extension and bulbous bow during at docking at the Tacoma yard. At a further visit in 2011 Vigor Marine cut and extended the midbody, lengthening the vessel by 14m, and adding 166tonnes of steel in the process. In addition three wing tanks were converted into a passageway for crew from the forward part of the vessel to the engine room aſt. Coastal Progress completed sea trials in January this year, with her cargo capacity having been increased by 35%. “We see continued demand for work to


‘stretch’ both capacity and efficiency with sponsons and midsection extensions,” says Hirsh. ”Our expertise is proving to be attractive to commercial owners who are seeking ways to enhance capabilities and


Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 1st Quarter 2012


control costs while not adding to their vessel numbers.” In another ongoing project Vigor


Shipyards is currently working on the restoration of the USCGC Polar Star, to provide the US with heavy icebreaker capacity in the Polar regions, where it currently has none. While restoration of Polar Star is underway, Vigor is awaiting a decision on repairs for its sister ship, Polar Sea, which is slated for decommissioning. According to Hirsh: “We believe


restoring both icebreakers is an affordable, proven and practical alternative which will fulfil US missions in the Polar regions for the next decade, while new icebreakers are designed, built and put into service.” Work is well underway on the US$56


million maintenance and modernisation programme for Polar Star, which is due to return to service in 2013. Tis project includes upgrades to the diesel-electric plant onboard, and fitting a special heeling system to prevent the vessel from getting stuck in ice. Other projects booked in for later


this year, or now underway, include maintenance of the US Navy’s nuclear powered USS Reagan; installing state-of- the-art environmental upgrades for Arctic drill rigs; maintaining and overhauling ferries; and modernising the Seattle fireboat, Chief Seattle. Tis latter project will involve fitting new engines, fire fighting systems, propulsion systems and a new pilot house and superstructure. NA


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Feature 7


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