The Valencian shipping group Boluda Maritime Corporation competes for the concession of the naval repair shipyard in Sevilla, with a term of 25 years and a minimum investment of three million euros.
The Sevilla shipyard, once a giant of shipbuilding that occupied nearly 200,000 square meters, is once again in the sights of major maritime operators. Boluda Maritime Corporation, the Valencian group that is a world leader in port towing, has submitted its candidacy to manage the Sevilla port facilities for 25 years, according to industry sources.
The company is directly competing with AG Seville Shipyard, the current concessionaire that has been operating the facility since 2017 and has already announced an additional investment of ten million euros if it secures the renewal. The contest between the two contenders promises to be intense, with the Port of Sevilla as both judge and participant.
A tender that bets on modernization
The tender, approved in April by the board of the Port Authority of Sevilla, is not limited to the maintenance and repair of vessels. The terms also include the possibility of shipbuilding and dismantling, opening up a range of opportunities for the local industry. The concession covers the dry dock, the southern end of the outfitting quay for afloat work, a two-storey office building, and a slipway that is currently out of service.
The successful bidder will be required to make a minimum investment of three million euros to modernize the facilities. Among the mandatory actions is the recovery of the slipway and the repair or replacement of the floating gate of the dry dock, which has suffered significant deterioration after decades without maintenance. This is not a whim: without that gate, the dock cannot be emptied to repair vessels.
From glory to decline and the hope of a rebirth
The Sevilla shipyard, founded by the National Company Elcano of the Merchant Navy and inaugurated in 1956, was for decades an economic engine of the city. In its heyday, under the umbrella of the INI and later of Spanish Shipyards, it built bulk carriers and tankers for the national and export fleets. Its last ship, a ferry that was later named 'Villa de Teror', was completed in Vigo. However, in 2011 the factory closed, and of those nearly 200,000 square meters, only the dry dock and a slipway remained, reduced to 20,000 square meters. A shadow of what it once was.
Now, with the arrival of operators like Boluda, the shipyard could regain some of its momentum. The Valencian company, which already operates in Sevilla with its fleet of tugboats, sees this concession as a strategic opportunity to strengthen its position in the Guadalquivir. And the people of Sevilla, who have seen the river lose industrial activity, are crossing their fingers that the bidding does not end up being in vain.
What it means for the port and the city
The concession not only guarantees naval repair activity but could also generate employment and attract other auxiliary companies. The Port of Sevilla, which has been seeking to diversify its business beyond grain and containers for years, sees the shipyard as a point of attraction. The minimum investment of three million is just the first step: if the winner meets the terms, the dry dock will regain its full functionality and the slipway will once again launch ships.
For the residents of Sevilla, the effect will not be immediate, but it will be tangible in the medium term. More ships being repaired in the port means more activity, more professional traffic, and, who knows, perhaps some construction contracts that will restore the naval pride to the city. Meanwhile, the bidding continues and the clock is ticking: the Port Authority plans to resolve the concession in the coming months. Whoever wins will face the challenge of bringing life back to a dock that has been out of service for too long.
You may also like
