A new design for a floating ship repair yard has been proposed as a solution to the current lack of yard space and increasing need to retrofit tonnage.
South Korea’s KR Engineering Co has put together a conceptual design for a 106-metre long, three-pontoon facility comprising a floating dock, workshops, storage and accommodation and a separate working area.
Speaking to TradeWinds, C H Lee from KR’s ship business development team, who was also talking on behalf of the division vice president K H Hong, said the cost for the facility and its construction would come in at between $40m and $45m.
Lee said the floating repair yard could be built at a South Korean shipyard in about 20 months.
He said the final design would depend on client requirements, but could be tailored to suit.
Lee said KR Engineering — which designs and supplies floating docks — is in discussions with some potential customers on the facility.
He named countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and South Korea as places where talks have been taking place.
Lee gave the example of Bangladesh which has floating dock facilities, but shallow river depths have created challenges in getting shipping tonnage to them.
He said the floating repair yard could be used in other areas where there is not enough dock capacity, including at new facilities where it would be possible to moor it alongside.
Alternatively, it can be brought to vessels or groups of ships needing repairs.
The new design concept comes as shipyard space is at a premium for newbuildings and conversions and yards are looking at how they can tweak capacity to capture demand or reactivate existing facilities.
