First steel cut for new BLRT floating dock

BLRT Grupp has begun construction of a new floating dock for its Klaipėda-based ship repair yard, Western Shiprepair, in a move that will expand capacity and enable the facility to handle larger vessels, including Panamax ships.

The project reached its first major milestone on June 2nd with a steel-cutting ceremony at Turkey's HAT-SAN Shipyard, where the dock is being built. The ceremony marks the transition from the design phase to physical construction with completion and commissioning expected in the second half of 2027.

Measuring 200 metres in length and 35 metres in width, the new floating dock will have a lifting capacity of 15,000 tonnes. Once delivered, it will replace one of the yard's existing docks while increasing overall capability at the Lithuanian facility.

The investment forms part of BLRT Grupp's ongoing efforts to strengthen its ship repair operations in the Baltic Sea region, where demand for repair, maintenance and retrofit services continues to grow. The addition of the new dock will allow Western Shiprepair to accommodate larger vessel classes and expand the range of projects it can undertake.

By upgrading its dock infrastructure, BLRT Grupp is positioning its Klaipėda yard to compete for a broader range of repair and conversion work, particularly from operators of Panamax vessels trading in northern Europe and the Baltic region. The project also reflects continued investment by ship repair yards in capacity expansion as demand for repairs, life-extension projects and decarbonisation retrofits increases across the global fleet.