28.10.2019
Besiktas Group expands its ship repairs activity into Tuzla
ART Shipyard is a new venture based in Istanbul’s Tuzla Bay district. Since its inauguration in April 2019, ART has been able to attract many leading owners with its docking and repair services, especially with the ballast water treatment system (BWTS) retrofits undertaken.
The company is now operating in three locations, offering its clients two floating docks with the following dimensions: a Panamax dock measuring 230m x 38m and a Handymax dock measuring 180m x 35.5m. Currently, two of ART’s facilities accommodate one floating dock each, the third facility provides clients with a total 650m long lay-by berth which is of great value in the Tuzla district where berthing space is scarce.
ART Shipyard has already serviced more than 30 ships, almost half of which have been fitted with a BWTS, while it has mainly carried out repair works on tankers, particularly LPG carriers.
ART Shipyard proves popular with Italian ships in its first few months
One of ART Shipyard’s LPG projects was Synergas’ SYN ZANIA, which was ravaged by fire last July while she was moored in the port of Aliağa near Izmir. The repair of the LPG tanker lasted two months and included the renewal of all surfaces damaged by the fire and deformed structures on the deck, topside, and in the sleeping quarters.
Besides Augusta Calisa’s Maritea tanker (belonging to shipowner Ottavio Novella), which underwent an overhauling of its thermal oil system, the Italian companies Augusta Due, d’Amico, and Montanari also entrusted their ships to ART Shipyard. Moreover, Synergas’ LPG tanker SYN TABIT will soon undergo ordinary maintenance at Art facilities.
In fact, Besiktas Group has a strong relationship with Italy: for instance, between 2019 and 2020 the Yalova shipyard installed scrubbers on several Grimaldi ships, while in the past it has also welcomed ships belonging to Montanari, Marnavi, and Motia. Likewise, the Art Shipyard has a close relationship with Italian suppliers and manufacturers such as Gas & Heat, which built cargo tanks and cargo plants for Besiktas Shipyard’s LPG and LNGfuelled ships.