Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2018)

Five Minutes with

Loy Stewart Jr.

President, Detyens Shipyards, Inc.

the key to our success. We are always ci? c job is the people that come to man- looking for employees with repair ex- age the vessels and their crew. We really

Finding success stories among shipyards today can perience that ? t our mold, and these are enjoy getting to meet all the unique in- be a challenge, but we found one in Charleston, few and far between. We have several dividuals and characters that come with apprenticeship programs to train em- each project. It’s really hard to single out

South Carolina at Detyens Shipyards, which is com- ployees for a trade, but most importantly, one speci? c project, to us they’re all spe- ing off of a strong 2017 and investing for the future, for our core values. cial. as Loy Stewart Jr., President, explains.

Same question as above, with the You’ve had a long career in ship re- words added: “in the U.S.?” pair: of what are you most proud?

In the international market, there is I am most proud to be able to follow

BY GREG TRAUTHWEIN a stigma that U.S. shipyards are over- in my father and grandfathers footsteps priced and unable to deliver on time. In and to be able to continue what they a head-to-head analysis Detyens match- started. My earliest memories as a child

The maritime market has had a dif- the smaller cruise ships and passenger es up with any yard in the world. We were of a small shipyard out in the coun- ? cult few years, but it appears that ferries visiting the yard. I believe the have a permanently employed pool of try that did primarily U.S. Navy work.

Detyens has prospered. Can you give answer is twofold. There has been an highly skilled craftsmen that covers all Looking back, it’s those roots that have a recap of your business?

increase in popularity for these smaller trades and disciplines. It’s not just our brought us to where we are today. The past 12 months have been ex- vessels in and around the Caribbean. world class facility, but our team of em- tremely busy for us, and we have been The second part could be that these op- ployees that makes us safe, ef? cient and How will Detyens invest in the coming fortunate with repeat customers and a erators feel more comfortable in a small pro? table. year? great team to service their needs. This yard such as Detyens. We are currently building a new year has included a wide spectrum of

Looking back, what do you consider enclosed paint facility and we are in the vessels including harbor tugs, barges, Running a ship repair operation is ob- to be your most challenging, interest- process of expanding our hull shop and dredges, ferries, cruise ships and govern- viously challenging. What do you con- ing or unique speci? c ship repair job? pipe shop facility. We are investing in ment auxiliaries. The list includes both sider to be your biggest challenge(s) in We believe that every vessel we re- our job-training and apprenticeship pro- international and domestic customers in running a safe, ef? cient and pro? table pair is interesting, unique and challeng- grams to perpetuate our talented work- the commercial industry. ship repair operation?

ing. The biggest challenge is always get- force. Our ultimate goal is safety and As we look ahead into the very near Running a shipyard is extremely ting the vessel back sailing on time and ef? ciency with any investments that we future, we do have some bookings for challenging. Finding the right people is in budget. The uniqueness of each spe- make at Detyens.

early 2018. This is very fortunate be- cause in the repair business we generally don’t see bookings out more than two or 30” CSD “ROBERT M.WHITE”

MANSON CONSTRUCTION CO.

three months. In our experience some

Photo: IHC AMERICA Inc.

ship owners wait until the last minute to schedule their dry dockings based on the uncertainty of their routes.

By vessel type, who is your ‘typical’ customer?

We don’t have a “typical” vessel type. What we do have is a “typical” customer type. They are ones that want their ship out on time and budget. The majority of them are repeat customers.

We have a saying, “the work is hard enough, we aren’t going to ? ght over it.”

I would say that our customers are com- mercial minded. We choose not to do

U.S. Navy combatant vessels. Although we do approximately 50% government work, these vessels are classed and have commercial missions to perform. A

Morgan City, Louisiana 70381 snapshot of the yard at any given time

Phone: (985) 384-2111 will show a wide variety of ship types and owners.

Shipbuilding...

we make it our business!

We note that 2017 has been particu- larly vibrant for small cruise and pas- www.halimarshipyard.com

Photos: Skeets Photo Service senger vessel repairs. Why?

[email protected] Yes, there has been an increase in www.marinelink.com 41

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