Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited’s (GBSL) new dry dock has helped it to have a successful ship repair season. The shipyard, in a release to the media, said it has completed repair and maintenance projects for 28 vessels, “while generating significant economic benefits for Grand Bahama and reinforcing the island’s position as a leading maritime services hub”.
The cruise repair season, which typically runs from November through May, is the period when cruise lines schedule major repairs, refurbishments and maintenance projects in preparation for the industry’s peak operating months. While the season’s numbers reflect strong operational performance, GBSL said its greatest achievement was the dedication and commitment demonstrated by its workforce.
According to GBSL, “Teams across the organization worked through an exceptionally demanding schedule to meet customer requirements while maintaining the high standards expected by some of the world’s leading cruise operators.”
Christopher Earl, chief executive officer of Grand Bahama Shipyard, said: “The combination of a demanding repair schedule and the integration of new dry dock infrastructure has made this one of the busiest periods we have experienced in recent years.
“Meeting customer deadlines while maintaining our safety and quality standards required extraordinary effort and commitment from our entire workforce. I am pleased to report that our Bahamian hires during this time increased by 24 percent, and our utilization of local subcontractors increased by 65 percent.”
The release continued: “As one of Grand Bahama’s largest industrial employers, Grand Bahama Shipyard remains committed to delivering value to its customers and stakeholders while supporting the wider Bahamian economy.
“During the seven-month cruise repair season, more than 15,000 crew members, specialist contractors and subcontractors associated with vessels undergoing repair were present in Grand Bahama. Their extended stays generated significant economic activity across the island, benefiting hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, supermarkets, transportation providers and numerous other local businesses.
“This influx of visitors underscores the vital role the shipyard continues to play as an economic engine for Grand Bahama, creating opportunities that extend well beyond the facility’s gates and into the broader community. The accomplishments of the 2026 season come at a time when global demand for cruise ship repair and maintenance services continues to grow. Our ability to successfully manage a high volume of projects further strengthens our position as a premier destination for marine repair services in the region,” Earl noted.
The Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. is undergoing a massive $600 million transformation to become the world’s largest cruise ship repair facility. The expansion focuses on the arrival and commissioning of two colossal floating dry docks, which will comfortably accommodate the largest cruise and commercial vessels globally.
The first of the two new floating docks arrived in Freeport in November 2025. This massive structure is 357.39 meters long and can lift up to 93,500 tons.
Following dredging and pier extension works, the shipyard successfully completed its first commercial dry docking at the newly commissioned East End dock.
The second, even larger mega-dock (capable of lifting 130,000 tons) arrived recently for integration into the yard’s operations. The multimillion-dollar investment includes Category 5-resistant mooring piles, power and piping upgrades, and a waste treatment plant to handle modern fleets.
