WINDHOEK – The Walvis Bay ship repair company Elgin, Brown and Hamer (EBH) Namibia has acquired a new floating dock that has been commissioned to lift bigger ships. The third floating dock, baptised Namdock 3, arrived in Walvis Bay in July and is now fully operational. EBH Namibia says the floating dock is “set to change the face of the West African ship repair industry”.
Hannes Uys, the Chief Executive Officer of EBH Namibia, says the company’s order book has confirmed bookings until mid-July 2015 which is testimony to EBH Namibia not only maintaining its current market share along the west coast of Africa, but being well on its way to becoming the preferred shipyard in Africa.
“We have been waiting since 2012 to be able to announce the successful commissioning of our new floating dock. Now, having successfully overcome numerous challenges, she has been shifted to her berthing slot as proudly ‘Namdock 3’ and is ready for work,” says Hannes Uys, the Chief Executive Officer of EBH Namibia.
“A total number of 421 workers worked night and day, meeting stringent deadlines to ensure that the dock is fully commissioned before lifting her first vessel. This was a truly great team effort,” says Uys.
The floating dock, at 195 metres in length, has a lifting capacity of 15 000 tons, substantially increasing the company’s infrastructural capacity and enhancing its ability to compete on a global scale.
EBH Namibia, which is part of the DCD Marine group, boasts three privately owned floating docks, well equipped on-site workshops and a highly skilled workforce, earning a reputation as a safe, reliable and world class shipyard. “We pride ourselves not only in continuously improving our customer service offering, but also being part of a global trade network that will provide much needed job creation and revenue for Namibia,” he says.
Africa has evolved into one of the biggest potential growth markets in the world, and the shipping industry, largely driven by the oil and gas industry, is growing accordingly. The acquisition of the third dock will ease EBH Namibia’s shipyard over-capacity and ensure a more sustainable level of output. It will also cater for a broader spectrum of vessels requiring shipyard services along the west coast of Africa.
By Staff Reporter