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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
GB Shipyard Continues to Grow in a Positive Direction.
At this year’s GB Business Outlook, Chairman and CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS), Carl Rotkirch was asked to present to the assembled business community. Rotkirch highlighted the current state of GBS, its impact in Grand Bahama, and how they plan to grow. Pictured is Chairman and CEO of GBS, Carl Rotkirch.
(Photo courtesy of Derek Carroll)
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Freeport, Bahamas – At this year’s GB Business Outlook, Chairman and CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS), Carl Rotkirch was asked to present to the assembled business community. Rotkirch highlighted the current state of GBS, its impact in Grand Bahama, and how they plan to grow.
Rotkirch especially focused on both the safety and quality standards that GBS employees observe, noting, “We are extremely proud of our safety standards and achievements. It is important to for families to know that our workers may come home tired, but safe!” With several hundred employees and a 24/7 operation, GBS prides itself on safety, quality and schedule adherence. The recent docking of the Allure of the Seas helps to prove all three, as the ship was due to be in the yard for six days, but left a day and a half early. “We are a tremendously good team in the yard now,” he noted. “And we are all proud of the accomplishment – and ready for more challenges!”
Carl Rotkirch, Chairman and CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard, Leah Davies, Marketing Manager at Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited and Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minster of Grand Bahama at Grand Bahama Business Outlook Scotian Bank cocktail reception after the seminar.
(Photo courtesy of Derek Carroll)
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Rotkich went on to note the immense impact that GBS has had on Grand Bahama since its inception, which includes a yearly growth of 6%, over 2,600 direct and indirect jobs, more. For every Shipyard employee, three jobs related to Shipyard work are created outside of the Yard. Additionally, the Shipyard has to-date invested $200 million in docks and facilities, $25 million in training, and is putting in $5-10 million in continuous yearly development projects .
Questioned about the lack of hiring locals who are trained in welding, Rotkrich noted that the shipyard requires exact qualifications for ship welding. “We deal with very dangerous situations at the yard,” he answered. “Employees have to meet world wide qualifications that are asked for in any yard. We also have quick turn around work, sometimes a week or two but not long term. The long-term jobs are committed to those Bahamians who can fill the jobs and we have an in-house apprenticeship programme, which has trained over 100 students since 2001.
Carl Rotkirch, Chairman and CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard addressing the crowd at 16th Annual Grand Bahama Business Outlook (Photo courtesy of Derek Carroll)
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The CEO’s presentation concluded that he sees great growth for GBS in Grand Bahama, and listed several factors essential for that growth, including cost competitiveness and productivity, predictability, making clients feel welcome and minimal inflation. “Grand Bahama Shipyard has virtually unlimited objectives for the long haul,” said Rotkirch. “With the support of our main stakeholders in Grand Bahama, we hope that our growth and investments will continue to increase.”
But he was keen to note that his company came to the island not only because of the location but because of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and that he and the company’s board are hopeful that the yard will have a o-rating for VAT, as all other ship repair nations do. “If we do not have this rating, it is my fear we will be unable to compete in our marketplace and this would be devastating to the community we support.”
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