A year ago, the repair yard German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) put the Panamax floating dock “Jam-Dock-I” in Kingston into operation.
Following the successful completion of several projects, the company now intends to invest further in infrastructure and the expansion of its services.
GSRJ, which was founded by German, Turkish and Jamaican investors, acquired the floating dock in Bremerhaven in May 2023 and then transported it to Jamaica using an ocean-going tugboat. Since the end of 2023, it has been in service at the first ship repair yard in the Jamaican capital Kingston, in the eastern part of the port.
GSRJ draws a positive balance
According to GSRJ, the results of the first year of operation are satisfactory. The shipyard has completed numerous repair projects for international customers and has become an important player in the growing maritime sector in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
The GSRJ shipyard’s first customer was the offshore vessel “Mexican Giant”. Following the successful docking of the 228 metre long product tanker “Sea Owl I”, the largest vessel ever docked in Kingston, the shipyard is currently working on the offshore tug “HF Hunter” and the tug “Ocean Tallawah”.

The GSRJ shipyard benefits from an internationally experienced team working under the leadership of the Turkish Hat-San shipyard as well as the German Kloska Group and HF Offshore. Jamaican maritime companies such as Jamaica Fruit and Shipping and Maritime and Transport are also among the partners. Other local investors include the PanJamaica Group and the Jamaica Broilers Group.
In its first year of operation, the GSRJ shipyard has seen a steady increase in orders. This growth underlines the market potential of the region and the good foundation on which the shipyard intends to build further, the company announced.
The shipyard’s expansion plans include the continuous improvement of its infrastructure to further increase efficiency and enable more complex projects. The acquisition of a second floating dock is also planned for the future.
Investment in training
The shipyard is already contributing to the country’s economic and social development, particularly in Kingston and the surrounding area, by offering high-quality training and creating jobs for local specialists and subcontractors. In collaboration with Jamaican institutions such as the national training authority HEART/NTA Trust and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), the shipyard offers specialised training programs that provide local talent with the technical skills and experience they need for a successful career in the maritime industry.
“The necessary focus on skills development will ensure that Jamaica will continue to benefit from a pool of highly skilled maritime professionals in the future,” the shipyard said. On its first anniversary, GSRJ reaffirmed its commitment to creating more skilled jobs in Jamaica.