At German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) in the Caribbean, the first order for the “Mexican Giant” has been docked as planned in the floating dock “Jam Dock 1”.
At the beginning of the year, Bremerhaven entrepreneur Dieter Petram sold the 215 m long and 44 m wide Panmax floating dock V previously used by Bredo Dry Docks in Kaiserhafen I in Bremerhaven. The new owner is the GSRJ joint venture in the Caribbean. [ds_preview]
Partners in this company, which was founded back in 2016, include the Harren Group from Bremen, Kingston Holding from Jamaica, the German Kloska Group and the Turkish HAT-SAN Shipyard. In the summer, the floating dock V was transferred from Bremerhaven to the Caribbean in a voyage lasting several weeks with the help of an ocean-going tugboat.
After the shipyard berth in the port city of Kingston had been prepared, the “Mexican Giant” had been in the floating dock since November 19 for a scheduled shipyard period as part of the 5-year class. Among other things, the engines and propellers were serviced and the outer skin was cleaned and repainted.
“Mexican Giant” – from Bremerhaven to Jamaica
The special ship, which is regularly used in the Gulf of Mexico to supply gas and oil rigs, is also not unknown in Bremerhaven. This is because it is the former “Blue Giant” (18,189 GT). It was one of four offshore heavy lift vessels built by Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven for the Harren Group in 2008. The ship was later converted again at Lloyd Werft for use by the Offshore Installation Group (OIG).
The ship has a total of three Liebherr loading cranes. Two of them are designed for individual weights of up to 350 tons and can be increased to a capacity of up to 700 tons in tandem operation. Thanks to a DP2 system, the freighter can be fixed with pinpoint accuracy on the high seas. It also has a cabin block with space for up to 200 people, a moon pool, a helicopter deck and a fire extinguishing system with a range of 180 meters.
A dock operation is completely new for Jamaica. According to GSRJ Managing Director Martin Rickman, more than 100 people are currently employed. There are now 10 to 15 more inquiries, “and we have only just begun,” said Rickman. (CE)
