Besiktas shipyard launches Europe’s largest floating dock
FSRU Emergos Winter was immediately welcomed into the dock (Source: Besiktas)
Besiktas Shipyard has welcomed the first vessel into its new floating dock, marking a milestone in its expansion strategy. Measuring 345m in length and 70m in width, the dock is among the largest in Europe and is capable of servicing heavy vessels including FSRUs, FPSOs, rigs, and cruise ships.
The first arrival, an FSRU, follows months of preparation and integration into Besiktas’s Yalova yard operations. The dock’s arrival in Turkey concluded a historic 54-day tow from Singapore and record-setting transits through the Suez Canal and Dardanelles.
“We see this as more than an infrastructure upgrade,” said Besiktas MD Yavuz Kalkavan. “With our continuous development strategy, our goal is to become the most reliable and competitive shipyard in Europe for the most sophisticated ship repair and conversion projects.
Tankers, bulkers, and container vessels will continue to form our core business, and we have already expanded our capabilities in the LNG segment. However, with this new floating dock, our goal is to begin building our reputation in oil drilling ships, rigs, FPSOs, FSRUs, shuttle tankers, and even cruise ships.”
The dock adds vital capacity and flexibility, enabling simultaneous docking of large vessels and reduced lead times. It complements Besiktas Group’s wider infrastructure, which includes Art Shipyard and Park Shipyard, collectively managing over 300 repair projects annually.
With only two such docks of similar size sold globally since 2000 – both now owned by Besiktas – the company solidifies its position as a strategic repair and maintenance hub for the global fleet.
