Great news for a major Door County industry. Several new projects will provide expanded employment at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay. Vice President & General Manager Todd Thayse says the construction of a tank barge, four significant repowering projects, & a conversion job will keep things busy at the yard into 2015. Thayse says the contracts are an extension of work seen in 2011 & 2012…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/N1684.mp3|titles=Todd Thayse]
The 491 foot barge with a 150,000 barrel gross capacity, designed to haul petroleum, is scheduled to be delivered in May of 2015. Thayse says the four engine replacement projects with Canada Steamship Lines are similar to work completed at Bay Ship in the past…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/N1685.mp3|titles=Todd Thayse]
The first two vessels will arrive in December with a completion date for both in April. The third & fourth repowering projects will start in December of 2014 with an expectation work will be completed in the spring of 2015. The option on a fifth vessel has not yet been exercised. Thayse says the conversion project features the oldest vessel on the great lakes, the venerable Saint Mary’s Challenger, which will arrive in port in November with an anticipated project completion date of May of 2015…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/N1686.mp3|titles=Todd Thayse]
Workers at Bay Shipbuilding are also expected to be busy on some of the 16 vessels expected to be moored in Sturgeon Bay as part of the annual winter fleet.
