A modern Chinese-built floating dry dock in Cuba, the largest and most modern in both Cuba and the entire Caribbean, has enhanced the country's capabilities to build and repair ships, thus boosting its maritime industry's competitiveness in the global market after over a year of operation.
The dock, built in China's Huarun Dadong shipyards and financed by a multimillion-dollar credit from the Chinese government, started operation in the Havana Harbor in 2023. This 220-meter-long and 48-meter-wide dock can accommodate cargo ships up to 65,000 displacement tons.
Johannes Milian, manager of Cuba's state-owned Caribbean Drydock Company, which operates the dock, said it has helped enhancing shipyard operations in the Havana Harbor.
"Since the dock started operations back in 2023, we have repaired eight ships, including the recovery of boats of our local fleet, which had a positive impact on the country's economy," Milian said.
The Cuban company employs around 500 skilled workers who undertake a variety of boat repairs.
"We do boat hull maintenance, electrical or mechanical work, crane repairs and steel treatment, any kind of work either in the inside or the outside of the ship," said Alvaro Barroso, the company's repair chief.
Both Barroso and Milian said the dock has not only expanded the company's capabilities and improved employee skills but has also granted the maritime industry in Cuba a competitive edge in the international market, with a growing number of foreign clients seeking repairs.
"Our prospects with this dry dock target the foreign market so we can collect hard currency to purchase the materials and resources we need to recover and upgrade our naval operations," Milian said.
Chinese-built floating dry dock enhances Cuba's maritime industry competitiveness
