INNOVATION IN SHIPBUILDING
As the biggest private shipyard in Spain, Construcciones Navales Del Norte has enjoyed a long and successful history. With plans to further specialise in high-value projects, the company is looking forward to its next chapter. Emma-Jane Batey reports.
168 Industry Europe
T
he roots of Construcciones Navales Del Norte go back to 1908 when the Sestao Shipyard on the left bank of Bilbao started. The shipyard’s location on the north coast of Spain proved to be an excellent choice, with its well-connected port and prominence in this important Spanish industrial area. The Construcciones Navales Del Norte name began in 2005 when the Sestao Shipyard was purchased by state-owned organisation Izar and the company refocused its activities on the very highest levels of naval construction. Today, Construcciones Navales Del Norte, known colloquially as La Naval, is Spain’s biggest shipyard. Having built more than
250 vessels since 1908, the company has learnt to continually adapt to market trends and challenges, giving it a valuable position as both an experienced traditional shipyard and one which has the very latest technology at its fingertips. Commercial manager Mr Javier Angulo told Industry Europe how this strong history gives the company a valuable advantage. He said, “We have always been dedicated to adding value to our customers’ businesses by fulfilling all their shipbuilding requirements and delivering in good time, so our reputation for excellence has been well deserved over more than 100 years.”
