Page 53: of Marine News Magazine (May 2014)

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If Signal Ship Repair’s (SSR) primary business can ge- nerically be described simply as ship repair and conversion, then it can also be said that its practice of ‘high blocking’ to facilitate faster, and more effi cient in-house Z drive re- pairs is its signature service. Utilizing a simple but highly effective shipyard technique, SSR has taken a routine prac- tice originally used to facilitate naval ship drydockings, and turned it into a signature service that helps offshore clients with drop down thrusters, z-drives, pods and keel coolers get repairs done rapidly. In a business where day rates can soar to $50,000 or more, getting them back to work in days, instead of weeks, can make all the difference.

A MarineNews visit to SSR’s mobile shipyard in April brought the valuable, if not unique service into full per- spective for the offshore markets that the Gulf Coast yard serves. Located in downtown Mobile, Alabama, the SSR facility of 53 acres and 4,400 feet of waterfront operates one Panamax and one 4,500 ton drydock. SSR offers mooring capability for vessels 1,000 feet (305 meters) in length. Signal International Inc., SSR’s parent, is a Gulf of

Mexico provider of marine and fabrication services which include a full service suite of new construction, heavy fab- rication, offshore drilling rig and ship overhaul, repair, up- grade and conversion.

Signal International, LLC was organized in 2002 as a limited liability company after acquiring the offshore divi-

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THE OFFSHORE SECTOR

IIn a business where time is money, Signal Ship Repair’s niche ‘high blocking’ repair methods have signifi cantly reduced repair times and increased shipyard effi ciencies.

By Joseph Keefe

SHIP REPAIR www.marinelink.com MN 53

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