News
Storied Shipyard -- Washburn & Doughty -- Burns Down
On July 11, 2008, a fire ravaged Washburn & Doughty's 50,000 sq. ft. facility in East Boothbay, Maine. Early property damage estimates exceed $30m. Two tugboats were reportedly under construction in the fire-damaged building. But a vessel that was in the water outside the boatyard was saved. The following is a letter from the company: Dear Friends, The devastating events of last Friday have left us shocked and deeply saddened. We are extremely thankful for the safety of our employees, the residents and visitors of East Boothbay and all the brave emergency personnel who worked heroically to fight the massive blaze at Washburn & Doughty. The Shipyard is truly indebted to the professional skill and vast experience of the Boothbay Fire Department and all thenumerous other Fire Departments who responded. They did all they could to fight the fire, and in so doing, save the surrounding homes and community. Now we begin the challenge of restoring Washburn & Doughty to its full operation as quickly as possible. Work will resume immediately on the vessels and component structures that were unaffected by the fire. We will also work to assist the Fire Marshal and Traveler's Insurance Company in their investigations in order to expedite the clean-up operation. We are so grateful for the loyal support of the employees of Washburn & Doughty, our customers, the community, our vendors, and friends throughout the country. We assure all of you that we will do everything in our power to rebuild the Company and continue to maintain the quality shipyard that has been ongoing since 1977. Signed, Bruce H. Doughty, President Bruce Washburn,Vice President While a tragic set-back for the Maine Shipbuilding community, there has been an outpouring of support for local businesses and the industry. The Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) has opened a special fund to aid the Washburn & Doughty workers. The Washburn & Doughty Employee Fund has been set up to help pay transition and other expenses for the workers whose jobs -- and vital tools -- went up in smoke. While executives work to rebuild, many of the craftsmen will be in a transition phase. Many worked with their own tools and will not be able to get
another job without them. "Our neighbors suffered a great loss. We can help. It's the right thing to do," said Julie Lamy, the BRLT executive director. Those who wish to help are asked to send contributions to the: Washburn & Doughty Employee Fund, in care of First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Bath, P.O. Box 26, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538.
Coast Guard boats from Station Boothbay Harbor enforced a safety zone around the area and transported firefighters around the shipyard so that they could get to areas they otherwise couldn't reach. (Photo courtesy of Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor)
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According to a recent report on Forbes.com, Pohang Iron and Steel Co. (POSCO) is aiming to be the world's leading ship plate steel producer within three years, and is building a $1.8b plant for fabricating heavy steel plates used primary in shipbuilding. The new steel mill, located in Gwangyang, in South Korea's South Jeolla province, is scheduled to be completed by July 2010. According to the report, the new facility will have an annual production capacity of 2 million metric tons of ship plate.
STX Wins $212m Bulk Carrier Order
South Korean shipbuilder STX Shipbuilding won a $211.8m order to build two bulk carriers for an undisclosed European firm. The vessels will be delivered by mid2010.
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