Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Just how low would the Canadian dollar have to drop before it would be more economical to start building ships hear?

We have a market for ice breakers among other ships for the navy.

Thanks in advance,

M.

p.s. Thanks for the update about the buildings and the facility.

What with the current high water levels on the Lakes, the PI just might float over the sill at the different dry-docks.

PWDD is pretty much complete except for machinery and tools etc.
I live just a few blocks away and the buildings, graving docks etc are still untouched or unmodified.
In fact building repairs have been done recently and the whole complex appears well looked after.
I don't see why building could not restart at some point if the economics and the will to do so was there.
Theres a fabrication company in Welland that recently built railcars on mass under contract with a company from Roanoke out of the blue. While railcars are not ships the logistics are not that diferent.

What about the tug Presque Isle? I know at times when she needs a five year drydocking or something like that, she would then head to the pwdd. Is the pwdd still capable then of accommodating her, or does she have to go to another shipyard for whatever it is that she has done at pwdd? Could Erie or Sturgeon Bay due the same type of work on the tug PI that pwdd does? Just curious is all here. Any information is appreciated. Thanks so very much in advance.

The drydock at Port Weller was built in 1931 by the Canadian government. Port Weller Drydocks was set up in 1946 and the drydock was leased from the government. Upper Lakes Shipping took over operations in the 50s.

Being the only drydock on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes with a capability of docking a loaded vessel, it has a versatility that can't be matched.

As for shipbuilding, well that seems very remote. It would be nice, but you need skilled workers (easy to find) and skilled management (very hard to find; either left for other businesses, retired or passed away.)

I just read the article in the news section.

This is great news, even if it's only for a short term lease.

Thank you all for clarifying things.

Perhaps, one day, a ship could finally built there again?

M.

First off, pardon my ignorence but I have never been to Port Weller. With so many ship-building and ship-repair facilities being destroyed for ship usage (the Collingwood Shipyard, AmShip's 130th Street Chicago Yard, the former main AmShip Yard in Lorain). Why doesn't CSL, Algoma or both of them in combination buy PWDD to ensure that it stays a Dry-Dock and doesn't become another former Ship-Repair / Building site covered with dirt and used as Condominium space? Or is that not possible at Port Weller?

Yes the algoma discovery is in there now

PWDD is a complete dry-dock. In fact there is two dry-dock areas a deep one and a shallow one .
The docks are capable of handling seaway size freighters such as Algoma Enterprise or Algoma Discovery.

Let me re-phrase this,

Is the dry dock still in use as an actual dry dock?

Thanks in advance,

M.

MikeCDN wrote:What's left at that facility? Are they still capable of draining the drydocks?

What would it take, besides money, to get this fully operational again?

They are more than capable of draining the drydocks else this wouldn't be happening. Algoma Enterprise spent all of last winter in there...

What's left at that facility? Are they still capable of draining the drydocks?

What would it take, besides money, to get this fully operational again?

10:30am - AIS shows her moving into the north dry dock with the assistance of Vigilant 1 and Jarrett M

Algoma Discovery just departed Hamilton for clean out in the lake and then will head to PWDD.

All the more reason that these ships should either be built here or south of the border.

I'd much rather employ an American shipyard than one overseas.

My thoughts,

M.

Its guaranteed that Algoma will continue to use PWDD thru their sister company Algoma Ship Repair( originally Fraser Marine ).

The refit and 5 year survey of Algoma Enterprise went well last winter, so no reason to think it won't continue.

I think that is especially true because of the Chinese shipyard fiasco they got themselves into. It was interesting that the recent Bear Facts news letter only refers to the two recently contracted to Croatia.
No mention of CWB Strongfield or Algoma Niagara which were considerably far along in construction.

i hearing around the 27th.there is some works there i understand setting up.

I believe the Guardian, Spirit and Discovery were last drydocked in China in 2010 before coming to Canada, so that would make them due for a 5 year survey soon.

For what reasons? Repairs or CG five year survey and inspection? Have not heard of anything in particular going to pwdd but, just curious for what reasons would they be sending a vessel there as I have mentioned above in my post?

has anybody herd anything about Algoma putting a ship in the old pwdd..maybe the guardian spirit or discovery?