Profile: Naval Rocha
By moving to other types of vessels, we compensated for the lack of activity in general cargo; although the results were not immediate for our business, the demand for export and the commercial activity of our network is now generating positive results
plans came to fruition in 2013 when we became involved in the conversion of two cruise liners. One of the vessels was functional and the first project involved the application of almost 4000 square metres of silicone paint. On top of this, we have continued trying to penetrate the offshore market and have had some success with working on one or two offshore support vessels (OSVs).” An ideal junction for vessels passing through the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic waters and also traveling up from West Africa, Naval Rocha can offer maintenance and repair work to ships either about to embark on or just returning from trans-Atlantic crossings to stop and receive the attention they need. Services include cleaning, painting and blasting, which also comprises of HP washing from 200 to 700 bar; steelwork, mechanical and machining works, aluminum works, boiler repairs, tank cleaning, piping, tank cleaning, carpentry, insulation and
electrical, electronics and automation repairs. With a passenger terminal located next to the yard, the company was quick to offer its services to cruise liners when the general cargo market dropped in 2008. “We are in a great location for this particular market, which is concentrated in Miami and Seattle and crosses positions in the Atlantic during the spring and at the end of summer. Our size of shipyard is advantageous as it offers a lot of flexibility for the repair and maintenance of cruise vessels. Furthermore, we allow our subcontractors to work together with free rein of the whole shipyard because our two dry docks are concentrated with smaller repair projects that don’t require as many resources. This allows vessels to stay in the same dry dock while we supply any system they require.” Another recent project for the shipyard was the standard class www.shippingandmarine.co.uk - 65