After more than a decade of planning, substantial investments, and the establishment of a modern shipyard in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a family-owned Canarian company has taken a significant step towards the expansion and internationalisation of its operations by innovating boldly in this restrictive business model.
With a vision for the future that has characterised the company since its inception, the launch of a floating dry dock for naval repairs—their most ambitious project—was successfully realised yesterday at Asia’s largest shipyard in Shanghai, China. This achievement is destined to mark a turning point in the history and development of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Ignacio Pérez González, founder of the Hidramar Group and Tenerife Shipyards, alongside his son Jonathan Pérez Padrón, the company’s president, supported by board members, hailed this event as “a historic milestone for the port industry in the Canary Islands.”
The production of this sophisticated floating dry dock took place at one of the world’s most significant shipbuilding industries, the Chinese Huarum Dadong Dockyard. This immense facility spans 240 metres in length and nearly 50 metres in width and functions as a mobile, semi-submersible vessel that, when submerged in a controlled manner, generates sufficient flow to allow large ships to access it for maintenance and repair protocols.
The dry dock will feature an innovative robotic blasting system, enabling quicker and more efficient docking times. It will also be equipped with state-of-the-art technological advancements, making it one of the most competitive and modern models on the international stage.
Mega-structure in the Docks
This mega-structure, to be installed in the water adjacent to Tenerife Shipyards’ current facilities and workshops at the eastern dock of Santa Cruz, can accommodate large cargo vessels weighing up to 85,000 tonnes when empty of cargo and fuel.
Company president Jonathan Pérez, speaking from Shanghai to DIARIO DE AVISOS, asserted that the operational launch of this technological dock “clearly establishes a milestone in the history of ports in the Canary Islands, especially at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.” This installation will be the only one in the Canary Islands and among the few in the Atlantic capable of providing technical coverage for the largest cargo transport vessels, known as Panamax ships, designed to fit the dimensions permitted for transit through the Panama Canal. Currently, there are around 50,000 ships of this type worldwide, most of which navigate the intercontinental routes of Europe, Africa, and America. Given this context, along with the excellent reputation and international experience in complex repairs of offshore oil and gas platforms (FPSOs) that dock in Tenerife for maintenance, the shipyard’s management expressed optimism about the significant leap Tenerife Shipyards will make in the global naval rehabilitation ranking in the coming years.
The arrival of this giant naval dock in Tenerife is scheduled for next March. Its operational launch in the first half of next year is expected to create over 700 direct jobs, alongside several hundred indirect roles related to the high demand for subcontractors involved in these processes.
100% Canarian Capital
Jonathan Pérez is confident that the initiative set in motion by the shipyard will not only enhance synergies among dozens of companies providing services at the port of Santa Cruz but will also yield notable benefits for the economy of the capital, Tenerife.
The Hidramar Group and Tenerife Shipyards are primarily owned by Canarian capital, led by the Pérez family from La Palma. The investment for the construction of this state-of-the-art dry dock is approximately 40 million euros. Jonathan Pérez acknowledged that several multinational companies leading the global shipbuilding industry have already formally expressed their interest in establishing strategic partnerships with the aim of generating synergies and opening new lines of business, which will undoubtedly contribute positively to a stronger international positioning for the Tenerife shipyard. Additionally, the management team at Tenerife Shipyards has long been working on a technological development plan at the forefront of repair processes for the world’s largest ships and extractive industrial structures, with the underutilised port of Granadilla as its operational hub.
National and International Interest
As soon as the news broke regarding the operational capabilities of the large naval repair dock that will be available at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, both national and international shipowners began discussions with the shipyard to proceed with reservations for comprehensive service coverage for large-tonnage vessels starting in 2025.
Jonathan Pérez, during the ceremonial launch of the dock held yesterday in Shanghai, highlighted the effort, tenacity, and humility his father Ignacio Pérez has exhibited throughout his life in advancing naval projects that culminate now with this significant challenge. He also expressed his gratitude to the multidisciplinary team of professionals who have supported him over the past decade, as well as to the members of the company’s board.
