Positive performance for Gibdock
Gibraltar shipyard Gibdock has put in a strong performance over the first nine months of this year, with solid levels of shiprepair activity in evidence across a number of different market sectors
offshore vessel dockings. Details remain confidential, but the yard confirms that a number of leading blue chip operators in this sector have returned to the yard this year, and several other offshore vessel projects are in the pipeline. Richard Beards, Gibdock’s managing
O
director, says: “Tere are positive signs that repair and maintenance work for vessels active in the offshore oil and gas business is at last on the way back. With oil prices recovering, we anticipate a further increase in demand from offshore vessel operators over the rest of this year and on into 2019, giving us the chance to further strengthen our reputation as the ‘go-to’ yard in the Mediterranean for this sector of the market.” A key requirement of offshore operators
is for yards that can demonstrate a commitment to high standards of health and safety. Gibdock has underlined its credentials in this context by becoming the first shipyard in the Mediterranean region, and one of the first companies worldwide, to achieve certification to the new health and safety standard, ISO 45001:2018. An audit by LRQA completed this July confirmed that the Gibraltar yard was fully compliant with the requirements of the new standard, which was only published in March this year. ISO 45001:2018 replaces the previous standard, OHSAS 18001. While companies have until March 2021 to transition over to the new standard, Gibdock decided to migrate at
the
earliest opportunity. As well as handling more offshore
related work, Gibdock has also experienced relatively high levels of ferry and ro-ro vessel activity this year, and has docked a good mix of other vessel types, including bulk carriers, tankers and containerships. Gibdock’s proximity to a number of leading container hub ports, including Algeciras and Tangier-
Shiprepair & Maintenance 4th Quarter 2018 ne of the most encouraging
trends seen in 2018 by Gibdock has been a noticeable upturn in
Zambesi alongside at Gibdock, where the bulk carrier underwent a complex ballast water treatment sste retrofit
Med, is a significant factor in its success in the latter sector, as is continued support from German containership owners and operators such as Ahrenkiel, Carsten Rehder and Uniteam Marine. Te growing demand for retrofits driven
by the need to comply with environmental regulations is certainly starting to be a positive influence on the volume of work handled by Gibdock. Beards adds: “We are well placed to capitalise on the increasingly pressing requirement for scrubber and ballast water treatment system installations, a market where we have a proven track record. Owners in all sectors are having to consider retrofitting their ships and we have the expertise, the skilled workforce and ideal geographic location for such work.” Beards notes that it is now
commonplace for Gibdock to carry out at least some work relating to ballast water retrofits when vessels are docked at the yard. Tis can range from undertaking the initial preparations for fitting equipment at a later date, up to the full installation of all the necessary equipment to ensure regulatory compliance. Indeed, Gibdock recently completed
numerous works on board Zambesi, a 2013-built, 179m bulk carrier owned by John T. Essberger. Te vessel spent one month in the yard – both in drydock and alongside – and was subject to an extensive programme including a ballast water
treatment system retrofit, cosmetic repair work and propeller refitting. To install the UV-type system,
Gibdock technicians were required to modify sections of the owner-supplied, pre-fabricated pipework, due to clashes with existing pipework and equipment. Additional pipework also had to be fabricated on-site, as it was found to be required to install the system. Moreover, Gibdock went beyond the initial scope of works by conducting complete electrical installation of the system. UAE-based Aries Marine, a BWTS retrofit specialist, supervised and aided Gibdock throughout. Beards says: “This project showcased
what we are capable of. We aim to become a regional centre for environmental refits, and securing more work of this type will be a core element of our business strategy going forward.” Environmental regulations are behind a
growing interest in converting vessels to run on LNG as a dual fuel option. Once again Gibdock has been able to capitalise on this green retrofit requirement and has recently converted Balearia’s Napoles to run on LNG. Te yard also has a confirmed contract from the Spanish operator for a second project of this type, scheduled to take place in 2019. Beards says: “We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Balearia and to be involved in such a high profile project.” SR
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