Page 34: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2025)

SHIPBUILDING | TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

MOVING AHEAD

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

MARITIME BLUE ECONOMY 2025

By Wilfred de Gannes, Chairman & CEO, Shipbuilding & Repair

Development Co. of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (SRDC) he La Brea Shipyard is a ? agship maritime project model is already active in South Korea, where approximately ? rst conceptualized shortly after the establishment 25% of shipyard labor is sourced from the Indian subcontinent. of the Shipbuilding & Repair Development Compa- A comparable approach in Trinidad and Tobago could offer

Tny of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (SRDC) in 2008. valuable skill-building opportunities and exposure to advanced

Initially launched as a diversi? cation initiative under the Min- technologies during the shipyard’s construction phase.

istry of Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Trade, Invest- ment & Tourism), this U.S. dollar revenue-generating project

U.S. PROJECT FINANCING OPTIONS remains a key priority for the SRDC. The company anticipates The SRDC team continues to explore maritime collabora- closer collaboration with the newly elected Government of tion opportunities in the United States, having signed an initial

Trinidad and Tobago, which assumed of? ce on April 28, 2025 post-pandemic Memorandum of Understanding with a major and lead by The Honorable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, M.P., counterpart. In a signi? cant development, the company has

S.C. Substantial progress has already been made, including committed to opening a U.S.-incorporated shipyard sub-of? ce the submission of essential project planning approvals to lo- in Q3 2025 to help accelerate the La Brea project’s implemen- cal authorities. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, SRDC had tation. This will streamline contractual obligations under U.S. generated strong interest from potential shipyard workers and law, especially given delays in resolving corporate matters contractors, many of whom were shortlisted for various roles. through local courts. These U.S.-based initiatives follow the

Today, SRDC’s extensive labor database of pre-approved SRDC’s La Brea Shipyard project nomination and selection personnel could also serve workforce needs under President for the 2023 Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) hosted at the

Donald Trump’s new U.S. initiative to revitalize the shipbuild- Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The event, organized by the ing industry. His Executive Order of April 9, 2025, titled “Re- Caribbean Export Development Agency, attracted over 800 storing America’s Maritime Dominance,” lays out a strategy participants from more than 40 countries. Refer to: https:// to rejuvenate commercial and military shipbuilding. A similar carib-export.com/publications/investment-opportunities- 34 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • August 2025

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