Florida shipbuilder expands capacity with new testing and repair yard on Gulf Coast

Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group recently opened a new construction and repair facility in Port St Joe some 36 miles (57 kilometres) away from its head office in Panama City.

The 40-acre (16-hectare) site also encompasses 1,000 feet (304 metres) of deepwater bulkhead with unrestricted access to the Gulf of Mexico, where Eastern’s newbuildings undergo sea trials and other tests.

Eastern said that its Port St Joe facility is dedicated to final outfitting and testing of commercial newbuilding vessels as well as topside repairs. The facility was completed under a US$6 million investment.

The facility is Eastern’s third to be situated along the Gulf Coast on the Florida panhandle.