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.

The 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.”

Sophisticated products

Construcciones Navales Del Norte specialises in building high-tech vessels that demand the most accurate and specific craftsmanship. It offers a portfolio of LNG tankers, stainless steel tankers, sophisticated dredgers and offshore vessels for the oil and gas industry, but more than any one vessel the company builds tailor-made ships. Mr Angulo explained, “Our most valuable advantage is that we listen to our customers and build the vessel that best suits their exact requirements, rather than offering a range of standard products. We meet the needs of the ship owner or operator whatever they may be.”

In order to achieve this customer-led shipbuilding, Construcciones Navales Del Norte has a strong engineering capacity of both basic and detail engineering, with its 400-strong workforce including 24 engineers and naval architects alongside 66 technical draftsmen and more than 1500 additional subcontractors. The company has mutuallybeneficial ties with local universities in Basque and Spain in order to attract the best possible graduates, and also has a strict process of selection and training.

Over the last ten years, Construcciones Navales Del Norte has cemented its reputation for building large-scale high-tech vessels with an advanced LNG carrier with 138,000 cubic metres capacity and specialist trailer hopper suction dredgers. Mr Angulo continued, “We have now built the biggest dredger currently on the market, having recently made the delivery of a 46,000 cubic metre dredger. We are also in the final stages of building a 30,000 cubic metre dredger, so we have considerable experience in these sophisticated vessels.”

Technologically advanced

Construcciones Navales Del Norte is increasingly involved in the building of offshore vessels too, and made the delivery of its first vessel for the offshore oil and gas industry in 2009.

The fall pipe and rock dumping vessel is primarily used for covering pipes on the sea bed and is able to do so to a maximum depth of 1700 metres, thanks to its large scale and technologically- advanced construction.

Mr Angulo explained how Construcciones Navales Del Norte sees its continued success in the specialised shipbuilding industry and, as such, is looking to capitalise on its achievements in the offshore oil and gas and wind energy sectors. He said, “Alternative energy is clearly an important growth market worldwide. We have tended to focus on the European markets, but as shipbuilding is inherently a global business, we are pleased that we are steadily building a stronger presence internationally, particularly in the Middle East and South America, where we see considerable opportunities for our specialised shipbuilding expertise. We are wherever our clients need us to be and as we continue to build great ships, we continue to build great relationships.”

Utilising investment

Following a major strategic investment in its facilities in 2000, Construcciones Navales Del Norte is well-positioned to utilise its highly competitive capabilities, with excellent quality control and a team of dedicated employees. The company has no immediate plans for further investment as its facilities are already among the most advanced in the industry.

Construcciones Navales Del Norte’s plan for 2011 and beyond is to continue to consolidate its presence, particularly in the dredger, offshore and offshore wind segments and to maintain its position as one of the most important private shipyards in Europe. Mr Angulo concluded, “The last two years have been tough for many industries, including the shipyard industry, and so we are ready for a positive period of consolidation and activity. We will continue to focus on large-scale high- value projects for specialised vessels that meet the exact needs of our clients and are always delivered on time.” n

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