Not too many people are aware that Turkey is a major shipbuilding country. Times, however, are changing for Turkish shipbuilder Çiçek Shipyard and it has decided to return to the shiprepair market. In early May, the 58,000dwt bulk carrier newbuilding Kaptan Arif Bayraktar was floated out of Çiçek’s drydock at Tuzla Bay, clearing the way for the facility to be used for shiprepair and conversion work.
With an internal length of 225m and a width of 37.5m, the dock is capable of accommodating most Panamax vessels with ease. Furthermore, the availability of a 300 tonne gantry crane on the dock will enable Çiçek to undertake major conversion projects as well as more routine repairs and drydocking.
The company has been concentrating on new ship construction since 2003. But with the downturn in this market, it has decided to broaden its activities so as to maintain employment for its skilled workforce and maximise utilisation of its drydock and fitting out quays. However, it will continue to construct newbuildings in its yard utilising two slipways, one capable of accommodating ships up to 26.000 dwt and the other suited to the construction of smaller, more specialised vessels up to 5,000 dwt.
Çiçek has already won its first shiprepair contact with the 35,795 dwt Italian chemical tanker Maritea expected to arrive in Tuzla on 28th May 2010. Owned by Carichi Liquidi Societa Armatoriale (Calisa), part of the Novella Group, she will undergo an intermediate survey together with some general maintenance work. (contributed article)
