US shipbuilding group Vigor expands its capacity by a third drydock for its Seattle site.
In order to continue its »ongoing investments in critical infrastructure«, Vigor has entered into an agreement to purchase a drydock from a Korean seller, the company said without giving mor[ds_preview]e details. At 640 feet long with a clear width of 116 feet, the new dock will be the third, and largest, at Vigor’s Harbor Island shipyard.
As many other US shipyards, Vigor is looking for more orders in the course of a potential fleet investment by the new administration under President Donald trump. »The purchase of another drydock in Seattle allows Vigor to better service valued customers like Washington State Ferries, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy,« notes Adam Beck, Vigor Executive Vice President of Ship Repair. »It also further strengthens our market position in commercial ship repair on the West Coast and supports our expansion into new markets.«
One of the recent investments was that for a new drydock in the Swan Island yard. Now, Beck and his team had been actively looking for the right drydock at home and abroad for a number of months. The one selected happened to be in Korea. The team is working to finalize the transaction and have the dock operational in Seattle by late Fall.
Drydock principal characteristics
Length: 640 FT
Clear Width: 116 FT
Lift Capacity: 20,000 LT
»Washington State Ferries is greatly relieved and appreciative to hear of Vigor’s important investment in a new drydock for its Harbor Island/Seattle location. We have been concerned about the shortage of drydock availability for the maintenance and repair of our fleet,« said Matt Von Ruden, Director of Vessel Engineering and Maintenance, Washington State Ferries. »Regular maintenance is critical to our ability to achieve the expected service life of our vessels and keep them operating well for our customers.«
