Gibdock - Rock News - Autumn 2016

autumn 2016

rock news

Repeat business boosts performance

T

he ship repair business remains challenging but, despite a general market downturn, Gibdock continues to perform relatively well. This June was, for example, a recordbreaking month for our offshore related work, with the second quarter of the year as a whole being exceptionally busy.

John Taylor, Operations Director, and myself will be attending SMM in Hamburg this September, and look forward to meeting as many stakeholders as possible during that week. Please come and talk to us in Hall B3, Stand 205, if you are visiting Hamburg this year. We would be delighted to see you.

I have been asked, how are we achieving such success within the offshore sector when this market is going through a welldocumented period of difficulty as a result of low oil prices? The answer must include our abilities and customer confidence that we will live up to our promises. It is true that we benefit from a favourable location, but we also deliver in terms of quality, safety and on time completion. And these are things that really matter in this sector.

Richard Beards, Managing Director

It is significant that most of our offshore work this year has come from returning customers. This loyalty demonstrates that they have been satisfied with their past experience at Gibdock and so are more than willing to come back. We have worked hard over the past decade to build up confidence amongst offshore owners and operators and that effort is now paying off.

Recently, Gibdock began working on another scrubber refit project, highlighting our position as the ‘go to’ yard in the Mediterranean for environmental refits. Meanwhile, we recently confirmed a comprehensive cruise ship refurbishment, with Thompson Majesty booked in to the yard later in the year underlining our strong reputation in the sector.

We are also grateful for the loyal support of regular customers in the ferry and ro-ro shipping business. The Grimaldi group has entrusted us with several of its larger vessels in recent times, with another of its multipurpose ro-ro ships, Grande America, recently docking in Gibraltar.

Brexit bounce Residents of Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly for the United Kingdom to remain within the European Union, with 96% supporting Remain. Despite the obvious disappointment at the outcome, Gibraltar-based businesses, including Gibdock, have not seen any negative consequences of ‘Brexit’ to date.

Richard Beards, Managing Director, says: “In fact, so far it has only been positive for Gibdock. The decline in the value of sterling after the Brexit vote has made the yard more competitive compared with most of our eurozone-based rivals.”

It is still early days post-Brexit, with the UK yet to trigger Article 50. However, Gibdock is already lobbying, along with other Gibraltar Port Association members, to ensure that negotiations take into account the requirements of businesses and residents on The Rock. Richard Beards points out: “Our Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, met with the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, almost as soon as she was appointed. We will be supporting the efforts of the Gibraltar government to ensure that the terms of Brexit cause minimal disruption to the flow of people and goods in this part of the world. For the time being it is very much business as usual.”

rock news

Project news Record offshore month

Con-ro brings heavy lift highlight Oceanex Sanderling, operated by Canada’s Oceanex group

This June was a record-breaking month for the yard’s offshore work, with four vessels of varying types being docked in that period. All were redelivered on schedule to the clients’ satisfaction.

One of these was the 2011-built, 5,640dwt Dive Support Vessel (DSV), Harkand Da Vinci, which was drydocked in Gibdock’s Dock 1. The scope of work included high pressure washing, grit blasting and painting of the hull; crane refurbishment and load testing; overhauling the vessel’s 19 box coolers; and the replacement of its fenders. In addition, various standard drydocking work items were carried out while the vessel was in the yard.

Gibdock has also recently completed work for a repeat customer on a 103m long, DP 2 class offshore construction vessel, with two ROVs and a 150 ton capacity deck crane. The yard carried out major repairs and overhaul work on the main deck crane, including upgrades to electrical and hydraulic systems, and also created a new access platform to enhance safety. The project included work to the vessel’s four thrusters, one of which was taken to Gibdock’s work shop for dismantling and a comprehensive overhaul. In addition, the yard carried out main engine overhauls; crane load testing; and the refurbishment of the ROVs, as well as standard drydocking work, including pipe repairs and hull painting.

Gibdock’s recent investment in Pad 1, a specialised prefabrication area alongside Dock 1, has been especially beneficial for offshore work, allowing the yard to take on more complex projects of this type. Gibdock Managing Director Richard Beards says: “In line with our offshore successes, we are also continually improving our QHSE. While some shipyards may be tempted to seek work based on aggressive pricing alone, we know that safety and the environment in particular are key concerns for offshore owners and operators.”

Harkand Da Vinci, which was drydocked in Gibdock’s Dock 1

The first half of this year saw an extensive package of work carried out on the 1977-built, 1,125 teu capacity con-ro container ship, Oceanex Sanderling, operated by Canada’s Oceanex group. The vessel was docked this April for a work programme that lasted just over a month.

A key element of the project was the removal of the con-ro ship’s stern ramp, made up of three sections, the biggest of which weighed 93 tons. Paul Cano, Senior Ship Repair Manager, says: “This part of the work was an important milestone for Gibdock, involving the heaviest lift that the yard has carried out to date.”

Once the ramp sections were disassembled and lifted ashore, the yard carried out extensive steel repairs before the refit.

Gibdock also removed Oceanex Sanderling’s tailshaft for survey, removed and refurbished the rudder blade, reinforced the weather deck and fitted new container sockets to allow loading of 53ft containers. The yard overhauled the ship’s bow thrusters, repaired paintwork and carried out other works associated with a general five-year survey.

The project was undertaken within tight time constraints. As Paul Cano points out, “The owner was quite clear that Oceanex Sanderling was required back in service within a very specific timeframe to ensure minimal disruption to its customers in Canada. Through attention to detail and careful planning we were able to complete this very challenging project right on schedule to the client’s satisfaction.”

Gibdock newsletter • Autumn 2016

Up close Different skills make ship managers a formidable unit Right at the very heart of the Gibdock operation is its five-strong Ship Managers team, all with plenty of knowledge and experience in the ship repair business. Working alongside senior repair managers, Paul Cano and Filip Tsankov, are Jonathan Pocock, Francisco Molina and Juan Piñero, all reporting ultimately to William Langtry, Production Manager.

Each member of the team has a different set of skills and experience that complement each other well to provide a strong, customerfacing project management resource. Their role is wide-ranging as Paul Cano explains. “We are involved with all of the ship repair and conversion projects that come to Gibdock from the moment we quote for the job to the time the vessel departs,” he says.

Filip adds: “We are the point of contact with the owner and the superintendent from the word go. We are responsible for QSHE and risk assessment and, once the vessel is docked at the yard we take overall control, supervising all aspects of the work, chasing up orders for parts and equipment, and managing any changes as they arise. When the work is completed we also take responsibility for closing the final invoice.”

Paul Cano, who has worked at the yard for more than four decades, is the team’s most experienced member. “I have been here since the yard’s Ministry of Defence days,” says Paul, “As a result, I tend to take the lead on naval projects and, given my background as an electrical engineer, any projects with a high electrical systems content.” One notable recent project was HMS Scott, the largest vessel in the Royal Navy’s Hydrographic Squadron, which was docked in Gibraltar earlier this year.

Filip, who has been with Gibdock since 2010, having previously worked at MTG Dolphin in Bulgaria, has a master’s degree in

marine engineering. His experience has made him well suited to take the lead on a number of seismic survey ships repaired at Gibdock in recent years. He also took the lead as project manager for the scrubber installation works recently undertaken

by Gibdock for Vroon.

Jonathan Pocock, has been at the yard for almost 13 years, originally joining as an apprentice through the Gibdock Academy.

Jonathan says: “Managing all repairs and maintenance includes producing a project timeline, managing labour, material and sub-contractors, holding production meetings with the vessel superintendent, taking responsibility for Health & Safety, making risk assessments, quality control, producing cost reports and invoices and giving technical support. No two days are ever the same!”

Francisco Molina, better known as Paco, was previously a foreman at Gibdock, and is another who has risen through the ranks and can call on wide-ranging practical ship repair experience. Juan Piñero is the most recent recruit of the fivestrong team, having joined Gibdock in 2011. Nevertheless he brings with him plenty of experience, having previously worked as a repair manager in Spain.

Operations Director, John Taylor, comments: “We are fortunate in having such a good team, with a range of experiences and complementary skills. While they are all very different, they come together to make a good unit, and I know the rest of the organisation, and our customers, appreciate their professionalism and dedication to getting the job done well, and on time.”

The five-strong ship managers team (left to right): Paco Molina, Filip Tsankov, Paul Cano, Juan Piñero and Jonathan Pocock

Gibdock newsletter • Autumn 2016

rock news Apprentices make the grade

In recent months the company has been working on a high profile exhaust scrubber project for five Norbulk vessels, installing electrical panels/instrumentation, laying cables, completing electrical connections and undertaking small diameter piping work.

Established 20 years ago, IESA employs 20-50 people depending on workload. The company is currently seeking to certify its laboratory to comply with the requirements of ENAC, the Spanish national accreditation body, and expanding its range of calibration services and the precision of its measuring equipment.

German prospects for Gibdock Prospects for further work from German ship managers have received a post-Brexit boost, with the UK’s vote to leave the EU bringing a more favourable exchange rate.

Gibdock apprentices soon to start their third year: Aaron Abad, left and Gian Carlos Rocca, right For almost 20 years Gibdock has run a highly successful apprenticeship scheme, developing future talent for the yard. The latest two apprentices to progress through the scheme, Aaron Abad and Gian Carlos Rocca, both aged 21, are entering their third year of training.

During their time at the yard, they have been learning key elements of the ship repair craft, such as welding, fabrication, taking measurements, reading plans and technical drawings, and oxygen/acetylene cutting.

Richard Beards, Managing Director, says: “We are strongly committed to our apprenticeship programme as we need to develop the ship repair technicians, and managers, of the future. We are very proud of the strides that Aaron and Gian Carlos have made in their time with us and I look forward to seeing them progress further.”

Seven German-owned or operated vessels have been repaired at Gibdock so far this year, including general cargo ships, container carriers, a reefer ship and a bulk carrier. With the exception of a first job for Peter Dohle, all projects have involved returning customers.

Combitrade, the Hamburg-based agency acting on Gibdock’s behalf in the German market says that Brexit only fleetingly gave German owners pause for thought. However, as Gibdock Managing Director Richard Beards observes: “For owners, it is not only business as usual, it is business with a new competitive edge. Our reputation is built on quality, on-time redelivery and reliability, as well as location and the accuracy of our quotations. Our expectation is that we will be highly competitive with surrounding yards as German owners consider their class renewal work as vessels come off charter for the rest of 2016.”

CombiTrade since 1983

IESA adds value for customers Cadiz-based Instrumentacion y Electricidad SA (IESA) has been a highly valued member of the Gibdock ‘family’ of contracting partners for over 10 years. Primarily covering installation and maintenance of electrical systems onboard, IESA also calibrates onboard instruments, including pressure vacuum (PV) valves, gauges and multimeters.

Juan Antonio Iglesias, IESA Managing Director, says: “Our partnership with Gibdock is mutually beneficial, adding value for shipowners and operators. We have long experience in electrical issues, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and our staff are trained to be proactive and identify potential problems to save clients’ time and money.”

Gibdock newsletter • Autumn 2016

Come and visit Gibdock at SMM, Hamburg: Hall B3, Stand 205

For further information, please contact: Hugh O’Mahony, Director, PR, JLA Media Ltd. e: hugh.omahony@j-l-a.com t: +44 (0) 208 405 6343 m: +44 (0) 7949 708 679