Page 56: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2015)

SHIPYARDS

A Lynch Legacy

From L to R: Michael Lynch, Ryan

Lynch, Charles “Chaz” Lynch, Charles

F. “Derick” Lynch & Cary B. Lynch.

A Family AffairA Family Affair

The General Ship Repair Corporation, a ? xture on the Baltimore water front for nearly a century continues to build a strong business while preparing for fourth generation ownership.

By Greg Trauthwein eneral Ship Repair Corporation is their father Charles “Jack” Lynch in the tional and in the water earning money. that one-horse town drydock,” putting as ubiquitous of a presence on the early 1990s. In the management wings “We’re having a very good year,” said one boat up there and having the vari-

GBaltimore waterfront as Under are two of Derick’s sons, Charles (Chaz) Derick Lynch. “We’re doing a lot of tug ous work crews doing what was needed

Armour, Domino Sugar and “Natty Boh.” Lynch and Ryan Lynch. Chaz Lynch and barge work, we’re doing some work one step at a time, he said. “It’s so much

General Ship Repair has stood strong for served in the U.S. Coast Guard for four for Kirby as well, and we’re booked a more ef? cient having both drydocks.” nearly a century since its founding by years before deciding his fate lie in the month and a half in advance, which is a Another big investment was in the

Charles “Buck” Lynch in 1924, evolving waterfront shop his great grandfather pi- long look ahead for us. We’re working yard’s water blasting system, replacing today into the de facto ‘go to’ for work- oneered. Mid-stream in his USCG stint with all of the major players, from Vane, the more labor intensive but cheaper sand boat repair in the Baltimore area. Today he switched to the mechanical side of the to Kirby to McAllister to Wilmington blasting. “We’re not sandblasting any- it is in the midst of a strong year, and per operation. “He called me two year in and Towing.” more,” said Derick Lynch. “Even though its history it invests in its people and fa- said that he really wanted to come back Serving as the tug and barge repair the UHP (water blasting system) is more cilities with an eye on the future, a future and work at the shipyard,” said Derick facility in the Port of Baltimore, its ex- expensive to use and maintain, in the which is planned to include a fourth gen- Lynch. “And I told him ‘you’re a deckie perience with the maintenance and re- long run it is much cleaner and it helps us eration of Lynch leadership. … I don’t need a deckie, I need a ma- pairs of tugboats and barges is extensive. in productivity as it eliminates sand get-

In its time the company has serviced chinist.” Today Chaz serves the compa- General Ship Repair operates its own ting into every crack and crevice.” schooners and steamships, paddle wheel- ny as a foreman and machinist. ? oating equipment, trucks and portable While the company has a long history ers and super tankers, as well as every- Ryan Lynch graduated from the United equipment, and is able to service a vessel of investing in facilities and equipment thing in between. Today though, provid- States Merchant Marine Academy, and during cargo operations, at anchorage or to ensure it meets vessel ? x needs, De- ing repair and maintenance service to the today works in the yard as a project man- at its own facility. Central to its success rick Lynch maintains that investment in regional workboat market with its pair of ager, working part-time for the moment today is its pair of 1000-ton ? oating dry- its people is central to its long-term (and 1000 ton ? oating docks is the heart and in between his sailing at sea obligations. docks, the second added in 2012 replac- continued) success. “We put money back soul of its business. ‘Self-Suf? cient’ is perhaps the best ing a smaller 350-ton unit. The addition into the yard when we can put it back.

Today the company is owned and oper- term to describe the yard, its management of the second 1000-ton unit was truly the At the end of the year the ? rst priority ated by a trio of Lynch brothers: Charles and its team of 45, a focused group avail- key toward making the yard more ef? - is giving back to our employees in the

F. “Derick” Lynch, Cary B. Lynch and able 24/7/365 to its workboat clients that cient, according to Derick Lynch. form of bonuses, and setting aside some

Michael Lynch, who took over from depend on it to keep its equipment func- “We were always struggling with money for some major projects.” 56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2015

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