Page 43: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2017)

‘Dredging Up’ ‘Dredging Up’

DetyensDetyens

BusinessBusiness “Customers know that they can go to Detyens and might pay a little bit more, but it will be fair and the boat is going to leave on time. No question.”

D. Loy Stewart, Jr., President, Detyens

This story is excerpted from a feature authored by Joseph Keefe for

MarineNews, sister-publication to Maritime Reporter & Enginering

News. For the full story on Detyens, please visit: www.marinelink.com/news/detyens-markets-repair419829 (Photos: Detyens)

Detyens Shipyards, located in Charles- Nevertheless, and just three years later, ment and commercial jobs, and 98% fo- The dredging work, in particular, ton, SC, has been repairing and convert- the Detyens group secured a long term cused on the repair sector, Detyens ser- might have happened at ? rst as a func- ing commercial and U.S. government lease on Charleston’s then now-shut- vices a brown water portfolio that spans tion of location, but it stays because vessels since 1962. Although perhaps tered Naval Shipyard, moved its entire government operated NOAA vessels, the Detyens gets the job done. Loy Stewart better known for its blue water, deep operation to that location and has oper- nation’s research vessel ? eet, domestic Jr. adds, “There’s a lot of dredging in the draft work, the ? rm boasts a deep port- ated continually from there ever since. dredges and a host of other shallow draft Gulf, and there’s a lot of dredging way folio of experience on vessels ranging Today, Detyens leverages three (3) grav- work. up the East Coast. These vessels are con- from tugs and barges to tankers, bulkers, ing docks, enclosed shops for all crafts; According to Detyens President D. stantly transiting. With dredges in par- car carriers, container ships and cruise eight 56-ton gantry cranes (on a continu- Loy Stewart, Jr., the Military Sealift ticular, time is money. And so, we know ships. And, if its primary attraction today ous rail system); four tower cranes; rail Command is Detyens biggest customer, that if a dredge is anywhere close, or on is its geography, then from that advan- access over 8,000 feet of deep water pier but the yard also works for virtually ev- its way up or down the coast, we have tage, several key niche business sectors space and a dry dock for smaller ves- ery other government agency (other than a better than average chance of getting have blossomed for the yard. sels. Having successfully transitioned the U.S. Navy). On the commercial side, that work.”

In 1982, William J. Detyens sold the from a full menu of government work the yard’s workload is divided evenly Because today’s domestic dredging sit- business to a small group of employees to one which includes an equal amount between foreign and domestic vessels uation – whether storm related or main- which included his son-in-law and the of private sector work, the yard today is Also on the commercial side, this time tenance dredging – is highly ? uid, the yard’s current owner, D. Loy Stewart. In always looking for additional sources of in the domestic markets, Detyens found typical dredge is often its way from one those days, U.S. Navy and Government income. a welcome niche in the re? t and repair of job to another. Often, Charleston, SC is work provided the majority of its busi- dredges. Stewart explains, “We do a lot on the way. As a result, Detyens’ dredg-

Diversi? ed Client Base ness, but in 1993, the Charleston area of dredges; scows, cutter head dredges, ing clients include Great Lakes Dredg- was dealt a major blow when the De- Over time, the yard has successfully and hopper dredges, too. It’s dirty, grunt ing, Norfolk Dredging, the Dutra Group, fense Department’s Base Realignment dry docked dozens of international ves- work and that’s what we’re good at.” He Manson construction and the U.S. Army and Closure Commission announced the sels of all sizes and continues to bid in adds, “Customers know that they can Corps of Engineers. Getting that work closure of the Naval Station Charleston. that highly competitive market, as op- go to Detyens and might pay a little bit is one thing; keeping it is another. And,

Detyens Shipyards naturally felt the full portunities arise. With a portfolio that more, but it will be fair and the boat is that’s where the yard’s bonus, incentive impact of that decision. is roughly split evenly between govern- going to leave on time. No question.” and bene? t package comes in.

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