Besiktas Shipyard, Europe’s most active ship repair yard, proudly announces that its newly acquired 85,000 TLC floating dock has officially become operational. Today, the dock successfully received its first vessel, an FSRU, marking a significant milestone in the shipyard’s efforts to expand its capacity and capabilities.
Measuring 345 meters in length and 70 meters in inner width, the dock is one of the largest in Europe. It is strengthened to accommodate very heavy ships and platforms, including oil rigs, FPSOs (floating production storage and offloading units), and cruise ships. This strategic investment enhances Besiktas Shipyard’s ability to serve a broader, more complex segment of the global fleet.
The dock’s arrival in Turkey followed a historic 54-day tow from Singapore, including a record-setting passage through the Suez Canal and Dardanelles as the largest towed marine unit ever to transit the route. The operation involved tight international coordination and multiple tugboats to ensure a safe and successful delivery.
“Since 2000, there have only been two second-hand sales of modern, mega floating docks in the world. We successfully acquired both — the first, a 382-meter, 72,000 TLC dock in 2015; and the second is this 345-meter, 85,000 TLC dock, ” noted Yavuz Kalkavan, Managing Director of Besiktas Shipyard.
Expanding Capacity, Elevating Standards
The first vessel to enter the new 85,000 TLC dock is an FSRU ship. Following months of careful preparation, the dock and shipyard facility is now fully integrated into daily operations at Besiktas Shipyard. Its addition enables the yard to dock larger vessels in parallel, reduce project lead times, and offer greater scheduling flexibility to global shipowners. “We see this as more than an infrastructure upgrade,” said Yavuz Kalkavan. “With our continuous development strategy, our goal is to become the most reliable and competitive shipyard in Europe for the most sophisticated ship repair and conversion projects.
Tankers, bulkers, and container vessels will continue to form our core business, and we have already expanded our capabilities in the LNG segment. However, with this new floating dock, our goal is to begin building our reputation in oil drilling ships, rigs, FPSOs, FSRUs, shuttle tankers, and even cruise ships.”
Part of a Broader Vision
The activation of the new dock reinforces Besiktas Group Shipyards’ position as Turkey’s leading maritime organization. With three yards — Besiktas Shipyard, Art Shipyard, and Park Shipyard — the group now handles over 300 complex repair and maintenance projects annually for the world’s leading shipping companies.
