New Portuguese Shipyard

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 4

New Portuguese Shipyard

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) LISBON.

Portugal is building a shipyard to cater for the new “giant” 300,000-tqn tankers on the Tagus river estuary, a major bid to draw additional benefits from its situation at a world’s maritime crossroads The yard, across the Tagus from Lisbon, at Marguerira, on the banks of the so-called inland “sea of straw” formed by the river, will include the largest dry-dock in Europe. It will be capable of servicing the world’s largest ships. The scheme is a joint venture by the Portuguese, with their centuries-old seafaring tradition, the Swedish and Dutch shipyards. Provision has been made for an even larger dry-dock later. This will be able to handle repairs to ships up to 700,000 tons. The planners are convinced that the world is heading towards an era in seafaring which will dwarf today’s giants.

An annual business turnover of nearly £3.5 million is anticipated when the yard is completed. The new shipyard includes two dry docks, one 1148 ft by 177 ft, the other 872 ft by 138 ft, designed for use for repairing and overhauling tankers of up to 300,000 tons. Overhauls of such vessels are normally carried out once a year.