Grand Bahama Shipyard docks first vessel in new East End floating drydock

Grand Bahama Shipyard has welcomed the first vessel into its new East End floating dry dock, with the Bahamas-flagged Carnival Elation marking the start of operations at the expanded facility. The arrival represents a major milestone in a multi-year redevelopment programme at the Freeport-based yard.
East End measures 357m by 70m and has a lifting capacity of 93,500 tonnes, giving the yard significantly increased capacity for large cruise shiprepair and maintenance projects. With East End now in service, Grand Bahama Shipyard operates two floating drydocks.
The project involved years of planning, engineering and construction across several countries, supported by local teams and the surrounding community. Yard management said the dock’s entry into operation signals a new phase of growth for the Caribbean’s largest shiprepair facility.
The facility is now being prepared for the arrival of an even larger dock, Lucayan, in early summer 2026. That dock will have a lifting capacity of 130,000 tonnes, enabling Grand Bahama Shipyard to handle the biggest cruise vessels trading in the region.`
With East End already operational, booking activity has increased and vessels are lining up for dockings, reinforcing the yard’s role as a key hub for cruise ship maintenance, refit and emergency repairs in the Atlantic and Caribbean.