Following a 26-day voyage across the North Atlantic, two floating docks have arrived at Damen Shiprepair Curaçao (DSCu) in the southern Caribbean, fulfilling the undertaken given by Damen to the Government of Curaçao when it took over the yard in 2017.
The two docks were delivered by the heavy-lift carrier Xin Guang Hua to the Port of Willemstad, Curaçao, on 26 April following a trip with more than its share of bad weather.
The larger of the two is a Panamax-class dock measuring 230 by 45 m for tankers, box ships and other large vessels, while the smaller dock measures 108 by 23 m and is ideal for all kinds of tugs, work boats and offshore support and anchor handling vessels.
Delays Due to Strong Winds
The unloading in Santa Anna Bay was also delayed due to strong winds that initially prevented the safe passage of the 98,000 DWT Xin Guang Hua under the Queen Juliana bridge, much to the disappointment of the assembled citizens of the city of Willemstad. It finally took place at 0530 the following morning, with a much smaller group of onlookers. The actual floating-off of the docks went smoothly the following day and they are now alongside the repair quay at DSCu.
Completing the Docks and Seabed Dredging
The yard now has a busy two to three months ahead it, both afloat and ashore. Afloat, works to the internal compartments of the docks need to be completed, with some of the ballast tanks requiring blasting, painting and repairing to make them ready for operations.
Meanwhile dredging contractor Van Oord will dredge the seabed beneath the docks’ final position over the next six to eight weeks and piles will be driven in the same area to allow the construction of the dolphins required to moor and operate the docks safely.
Shore Infrastructure
Ashore, preparations are underway to set up the necessary infrastructure to support the docks including improvements to the electrical, gas and air supply provision and investment plans have been approved for the building of a new construction hall to house the service departments, welding machines and provide training facilities to broaden the skills of the workforce.
Floating Dock Trainings
Training on the floating docks will be provided by the same dock masters who operated the docks for many years in Flushing and Pernis respectively, in the Netherlands. Their experience and extensive training will play an important role in familiarising the DSCu nautical services team with their new assets.
Damen plans to further invest in the facilities, equipment and tools in the years to come.
