Western Shipyard Group is investing in a new dock for the repair of “Panamax”-type vessels

Western Shipyard Group is strengthening its ship repair capacity — a 43 million USD contract has been signed with the Turkish company “Hat-San Shipyard” for the construction and acquisition of a new floating dock intended for “Panamax”-type vessels.

The dock being built on a tailor-made basis will strengthen the infrastructure capacity of the Western Shipyard Group. The new asset, measuring 200 m in length, 35 m in width, and with a lifting capacity of 15,000 tons, will replace one of the docks currently in operation. Investment in infrastructure will make it possible to service more and larger-tonnage vessels at the same time, increase the overall workload, and create conditions for the creation of additional jobs both directly and in related service chains.

According to Arnoldas Šileika, CEO of the Western Shipyard Group, the acquisition of the dock is part of a long-term investment program responding to the evolving standards of the shipping industry:

According to A. Šileika, it is also important that in this case the largest maritime engineering industry company in Lithuania is acting as the client, acquiring a dock designed and built according to its specific needs. This allows to optimally tailor technical parameters and operational solutions to the specifics of activities and increase process efficiency.

The expansion of capacity enhances the ability to secure more complex and higher-value contracts in the Northern and Western European markets, including the Scandinavian region, where high technical standards are a key factor of competitiveness. The investment will also contribute to increasing the economic activity of the city of Klaipėda and the growth of the country’s industry, strengthening the high value-added maritime engineering sector and reinforcing Lithuania’s reputation as a reliable partner in the shipbuilding and repair industry. 

Elijus Čivilis, Head of the investment promotion agency Invest Lithuania, emphasizes the consistent continuity of investments by the VLG group of companies:

It became possible to repair, modernize, and provide technical maintenance for “Panamax”, “Post-Panamax”, and “Aframax” type vessels in Klaipėda following the development of the Malkų Bay infrastructure and, since 2020, the commissioning by the Western Shipyard Group of the largest floating dock in the Baltic States, measuring 235 m in length, 45 m in width, and with a lifting capacity of 33,000 tons.

The operation of the new dock is planned to begin in autumn 2027.

In 2025, Western Shiprepair, a company within the Western Shipyard Group, repaired, modernized, and provided technical maintenance for fifty-five vessels.