OCTOBER 20 —Ship repair company Elgin Brown and Hamer (EBH) Namibia has marked a milestone with the commissioning and inauguration of its newly-acquired Panamax-sized third floating dry dock, Namdock 3. The company reports that the new dry dock, which arrived in Walvis Bay July % (see earlier story), is now fully operational, and set to change the face of the West African ship repair industry.

The floating dock was previously owned by Australian shipbuilder and repairer Forgacs Engineering and was long a Newcastle, NSW, harbor landmark.

"We have been waiting since 2012 to be able to announce the successful commissioning of our new floating dock. Now, having successfully overcome numerous challenges, she has been shifted to her berthing slot as proudly Namdock 3 and is ready for work," says Hannes Uys, Chief Executive Officer of EBH Namibia.

"A total number of 421 workers worked night and day, meeting stringent deadlines to ensure that she was fully commissioned before lifting her first vessel . This was a truly great team effort," says Mr. Uys.

The Panamax floating dock, at 195 meters in length, has a lifting capacity of 15 000 tons, substantially increasing the company's infrastructure capacity and enhancing its ability to compete on a global scale.

Part of the DCD Marine cluster, EBH Namibia has three privately-owned floating docks, well-equipped on site workshops and highly skilled work force, earning a reputation as a safe, reliable and world class shipyard.

The third floating dock is further proof of the company's commitment to the success of its customers through continuous development of capacities, technical competencies and a motivated workplace, says Mr. Uys.

"We pride ourselves not only in continuously improving our customer service offering, but also being part of a global trade network that will provide much needed job creation and revenue for Namibia," he says.

"Our order book has confirmed bookings until mid-July 2015 which is testimony to EBH Namibia not only maintaining its current market-share along the west coast of Africa, but being well on its way to becoming the preferred shipyard in Africa," Mr. Uys concludes.