Renamed Gotaverken yard aims for regional top spot
Gothenburg’s main shipyard has outlined plans to become the leading repair services provider in the Nordic region.
A
s part of its strategy for reaching the top spot, the long-established Swedish yard, previously known as
Götaverken Cityvarvet, has changed its name to become Damen Shiprepair Götaverken (DSGö), highlighting the fact that it has been a part of the Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group since 2000. Te yard plans to take on around 25 to
30 new employees over the next two years, and has recently purchased both of the floating docks it has been using in the Port of Gothenburg. “It is especially important that we invest strategically now in order to meet customers’ needs as effectively as possible,” says managing director Jos Goris: “As well as buying the floating docks, we have also been making investments in improving our internal working processes and upgrading our project management skills. We have additionally developed a web-based digital customer feedback system, as we are keen to improve and want to hear from our customers.” Te main strengths of the DSGö yard lie
in the repair and conversion of ro-ro, ropax, liquid bulk and offshore vessels. It is in the offshore sector especially, however, that DSGö sees bright prospects. Goris says: “As the oil price has increased,
there is obviously more cash available in that sector. New oil is being discovered and there is a lot of exploration going on in Brazil, Africa and various other parts of the world. Many of the Norwegian firms and offshore players in Aberdeen are involved in those markets and because we are accessible directly from the North Sea, being tide-independent and free from locks, these operators are on our doorstep so to speak.” He points out that a lot of companies based in northern Europe are active in these emerging markets and their ships are oſten back working in the North Sea region or return here awaiting further deployment. As well as providing a strategic location
for the offshore market, DSGö can offer customers in this sector large crane capacity,
An aerial view of the former Götaverken Cityvarvet yard, which is now renamed Damen Shiprepair Götaverken.
with two 90tonne cranes onsite, as well as large fabrication halls for prefabricated steel and piping work. “We also have specially designed pits in the drydocks to make it possible to remove retractable thrusters more easily,” says Goris. “Tis again is a very important facility for offshore operators.” In 2012 the yard’s offshore conversion
business is likely to see further growth. “We have a number of conversion projects coming up in this sector,” notes Goris: “Even though we are based in Sweden, which is oſten perceived as expensive, we can offer surprisingly competitive rates for conversion jobs.” Te ro-ro and ro-pax sectors have also
provided a significant amount of work for the yard in recent years and 2011 was no
exception.The yard carried out a major conversion for Stena, for example, as part of a two-ship package, including significant
Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 2nd Quarter 2012
The yard has two high capacity cranes onsite, making it ideal for offshore projects.
changes to the general arrangement of the vessel. Te conversion of Stena Spirit took around three months to complete and
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