A brand new $600 million deal to improve the Grand Bahama Shipyard means the shipyard partially owned by Royal Caribbean will turn into the biggest cruise ship restore facility on this planet.
In 2000, Royal Caribbean Group, together with Carnival Company and the Grand Bahamas Port Authority based the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
Immediately, the placement is a pacesetter in dry-docking, afloat repairs, refurbishments, refits, and revitalizations.
The shipyard serves vessels from the cruise to the business and offshore maritime industries.
Royal Caribbean holds a 40% share within the shipyard and sends a lot of its cruise ships to dry dock there, corresponding to Radiance and Grandeur of the Seas in recent times.
Grand Bahama Shipyard has between 85 to 100 drydocks scheduled a yr, and its new transformation is anticipated to surpass these numbers.
The shipyard is presently the most important within the Caribbean, and the $600 million challenge is ready to make it the biggest cruise ship restore facility on this planet.
Enhancements will broaden the shipyard’s vary of vessels it may possibly service
Enhancements made within the shipyard will embody the addition of two new world-class floating docks.
These docks would be the largest on this planet, permitting the shipyard to service your complete vary of cruise ships within the business—even the mega ships.
The 2 floating docks are being in-built Qingdao, China, and are anticipated to be delivered in 2025 and 2026.
The shipyard’s present dry docks have a lifting capability of 45,000+ tons and are able to docking vessels as much as 985 ft.
With these present measurements, the shipyard can presently deal with ships corresponding to Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class.
Radiance of the Seas is 962 ft lengthy and measures 90,090 gross tons.
Nonetheless, bigger ships corresponding to Royal Caribbean’s greatest, Icon of the Seas, aren’t near being dealt with by the shipyard.
In distinction, Icon of the Seas weighs 250,800 gross tons and measures 1,198 ft lengthy.
Reinforcing a dedication to Grand Bahama’s tourism and financial system
Royal Caribbean has acknowledged that it stays dedicated to supporting the Bahamian authorities’s imaginative and prescient for the transformation of tourism choices in Grand Bahama.
“I’m pleased with our enduring partnership with The Bahamas and the progress it has yielded over the a long time,” mentioned Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
“By working intently collectively on the Grand Bahama Shipyard transformation challenge we’re deepening the affect of this vital industrial funding and guaranteeing it reaches past our business to create long-lasting alternatives for the Bahamian workforce and native communities.”
The Grand Bahama Shipyard is presently the biggest non-public non-tourism employer in The Bahamas, and its enlargement will solely additional employment within the space.
The $600 million challenge will carry billions of {dollars} to Grand Bahama’s financial system.
The shipyard’s expansions and enhancements are anticipated to additional assist native contractors and companies.
On the similar time, a whole lot of recent, full-time jobs can be opened on the shipyard as soon as it’s in full operation.
The Grand Bahama Shipyard may even improve its apprenticeship program, welcoming 16-20 new apprentices a yr. These younger interns will endure a 4-year coaching program, permitting them to achieve priceless abilities and positioning the Shipyard to keep up a educated base of workers.
In keeping with the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey M.P., the shipyard’s enlargement will additional strengthen Grand Bahama’s place as “The Residence of Maritime and Logistics.”
The Grand Bahama Shipyard is positioned in an excellent location
Grand Bahama is the furthest northwestern island within the Bahamas, situated 68 miles from Good Day at CocoCay and solely 64 miles from Palm Seashore, Florida.
The placement grants the shipyard easy accessibility to Port Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades.
Grand Bahama Island is without doubt one of the hottest within the Bahamas, that includes stunning seashores, nature preserves, and golf programs.
Cruises to Grand Bahama dock within the metropolis of Freeport.
Freeport is the second largest metropolis within the Bahamas, with a inhabitants of 26,000 individuals.
Cruise ship passengers can get pleasure from a day on the seashore, excursions of downtown Freeport, native procuring, and eating.
Lucayan Nationwide Park additionally options mangrove timber and various ecology and geology.
Guests can attempt all the pieces from kayaking and dolphin watching to jeep safaris and scuba diving.
