Shipyards contract vessels again after 20 months without orders

New 600 millions orders give work to the factories to last themselves until 2012. During last quarter, the Galician private sector has incorporated 6 vessels to its order book which is valued in 1.500 millions.

It seems it clears up. After 20 months without new orders, private industry begins to sign contracts. It is still a shy upturn, with only one or two as maximum contracts per shipyard, and under the prizes reached in 2006 and 2007, when ship-owners wait in line to order its ships in Galicia. But the six vessels fixed up by Vigo’s Ria shipyards in the last three months mean the entry of 600 millions Euros into an order book that, according Aclunaga (Galician Naval Cluster Association), is valued in 1.500 millions Euros. The sum is much under the 4.00 millions reached in the best two-year period of the Galician shipyards history, but according Tomás Casquero, Managing Director of Aclunaga, it should give more peace to the sector in order to reach 2012. “There is something that means that the market is changing. One year ago there were no orders at all, and nowadays all the shipyards are negotiating new contracts.” Between new orders Construcciones Navales Freire brings out. British Government has awarded to the shipyard from Vigo the construction of an ocean graphic vessel of huge dimensions for this kind of boats, with 98 meters long and a total value of 85 millions Euros (about 75 millions Pound Sterling). Construction will begin in 2011, because before the shipyard must deliver another two ocean graphics vessels, one for Qatar and the other for Luxembourg. Hijos de J. Barreras has an arrangement with Naviera Armas for the construction of two ferries. The agreement, which is in a very advance situation, will exceed 200 millions Euros. Although Barreras is working on some projects more, with the aim of close at least other two vessels contracts before the end of the year between the 14 the shipyard is negotiating. Steel division of Rodman’s group, specialized during last years in vessels for the oil industry, finalized before summer the construction project of a new oil platforms support boat for the North American and the Dutch consortiums McDermott and Ocean Team, which they just signed with a value of 100 millions Euros. According sources from the company committee, the base will be Gulf of Mexico. The shipyard from Vigo Cardama, specialized in tugs, has signed this month with the Angola’s Government a contract for the construction of three salvage boats, of a total value near 120 millions Euros. Armon’s Group, with installations in Asturias, Burela and Vigo, also has advanced negotiations with a Mexican ship owner for the construction of three tuna fishing boats, of 20 millions Euros each, apart from one ship more in Vigo for the Spanish Oceanography Institute, waiting to be confirmed. (Source: LA VOZ DE GALICIA)

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