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Galați shipyard

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The Galați shipyard (Romanian: Șantierul naval Galați), formally Damen Shipyards Galați, is a shipyard located on the Danube in Galați, a city located in the Moldavia region of Romania. It was founded in 1893 as the G. Fernic et Co Mechanical constructions and iron and bronze foundry (Uzinele de construcții mecanice și turnătorie de fier și bronz G. Fernic et Co). In 1897, it was renamed as the G. Fernic et Co Shipyard (Șantierul naval G. Fernic et Co).

Damen Shipyards Galați
FoundedMarch 1893; 131 years ago (1893-03)
Headquarters
Galați
,
Romania
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Gheorghe Fernic
Number of employees
1,700
ParentDamen Group
Websitewww.damen.com/companies/damen-shipyards-galati
class=notpageimage|
Shipyards of Romania

History

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Origins to 1893

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The earliest mention of a shipyard in Galați comes from a firman issued to Alexandru Lăpușneanu in the late 16th century, regarding the arming of some caïques constructed there. In the following period, many shipyards were established around the port of Galați. During the first half of the 18th century, one shipyard developed extensively. It incorporated a launch slipway, a rigging shop, material stores, a sawmill, and a log warehouse.[1] In 1761, the Ragusan traveler Roger Joseph Boscovich, described the shipyard as an "arsenal" where ships were being built for the Turks.[2] Due to Moldavia being a vassal state, most war vessel production was on behalf of the Ottoman Navy through the 1820s.[3] By 1773, many ships including frigates, caravels, various commercial ships, as well as ships of the line with up to 60 cannons were constructed there.[4][5] Austrian Captain Georg Lauterer reported in 1783 that annually the shipyard was building 10 to 12 ships with 2 to 3 masts and was repairing many more.[5] Many of these ships were built for the Ottoman Empire, but the construction cost was covered by the Danubian Principalities.[6] One such order came in 1794, when 10 warships were to be built at Galați and paid for by Wallachia and Moldavia.[7]

 
The Navy Arsenal of Galați

The wood, of high quality, came from forests upstream and was brought by raft.[3] In 1817, a brig was built for Voivode Scarlat Callimachi.[7] However, it was not until the late 1830s, following the establishment of a free port at Galați, that the bulk of its ships started being used domestically: seven vessels were built there in 1839, followed by ten in 1840.[8] Due to the fewer and fewer orders for wooden ships, the shipyard ceased its activity by late 1860. Following the unification of Moldavia and Wallachia, the Headquarters and the Fleet Workshop of the Romanian Navy were moved to Galați. In 1879, the workshop became the Navy Arsenal.[1]

1893 through communism

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In March 1893, a local resident named Gheorghe Fernic established the "G. Fernic et Co Mechanical constructions and iron and bronze foundry" together with I. Guiller and T. Poujollat. In 1897, Fernic obtained approval to create a branch of his company that would work on ship repairs, which was named the "G. Fernic et Co Shipyard" (Șantierul naval G. Fernic et Co). In 1898, two state-owned floating dry docks started to be rented to the shipyard for repair works. In 1907, the shipyard was extended.[1] Also in 1907, four river monitors (NMS Ion C. Brătianu, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Alexandru Lahovari and Lascăr Catargiu) were commissioned for the Romanian Navy. Built in sections in the Austro-Hungarian port of Trieste, they were assembled in Galați.[9] In 1911, under the Premiership of Petre P. Carp, the area suffered some structural collapse, allegedly as a result of bad workmanship and political corruption (investigated by Nicolae Fleva on behalf of the Opposition).[10] Through further association with Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, several buildings were constructed at that time. In 1916, the shipyard changed its name to the "Danube Shipyards".[1]

 
The shipyard in 1978

During the interwar period and into World War II, the yard had strategic significance, and two submarines (NMS Rechinul and NMS Marsuinul) and one minelaying destroyer escort (NMS Amiral Murgescu) were built there. Initially commanded by German captains, then replaced with Romanian crews, the submarines later fell to the Soviet Navy.[11][12][13] From 1938 to 1944, Galați completed 65 civilian ships and 11 warships: in addition to the submarines and minelaying destroyer, these consisted of four motor torpedo boats (the Vedenia-class) and four minesweepers (the Democrația-class).[12] The country's first native-built dry dock was constructed there between 1937 and 1942. Before the war, the largest ships built were a river steamer of 420 tons and barges up to 1,700 tons at Galati; the yard employed 500 to 800 men.[14] The number of employees reached nearly 2,000 during the war.[1] Romania's first native-built oil tanker, SRT-128, was launched there in 1942.[15] Between 1893 and 1944, 116 ships were fully-built at the shipyard. Many others were assembled and repaired.[1]

The components of the Cernavodă Bridge were also built at Galați. In 1974, the Communist regime made a massive investment into the shipbuilding industry, so that the yard became fully stocked with supplies, including an animal farm. From that time until the 1989 fall of the regime, some 80% of the shipyard's products were exported.[11]

Damen Group era

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Following this event, there were 32 unsold boats at the shipyard, and these were only liquidated in full in 2000. Meanwhile, the Dutch Damen Group had taken over the yard.[11] The group's interest in Galați began in 1994, when it subcontracted several cargo vessel hulls.[11][16] This was the means by which its manager decided whether to invest somewhere. Noticing too that the boats left over from the Communist period were being reinforced, he decided to take control of the shipyard company's stock, which happened in 1999. Although he wished to obtain 100% of the shares, he only managed to acquire 99%, the remainder being in the hands of unidentified individuals who received privatization vouchers in the 1990s.[11]

Galați is the largest naval shipyard on the Danube, its output ranging from large tankers to small coast guard patrol boats. The company also represents a significant element of the local economy. Since 1990, all of its products have gone to export.[11][17] Following Damen's takeover, an investment plan focusing on improving efficiency and working conditions was introduced.[16] For example, at the time of the takeover, spoons and coffee cups were listed in the inventory; afterwards, all items worth under $100 were considered disposable goods and no longer placed on the record books.[11] The yard builds offshore vessels, naval vessels, special vessels (such as buoy laying vessels, patrol vessels and research vessels), tugs, workboats and mega yachts,[18][19] and has also produced oil tankers, container carriers, cargo barges and drilling rig platforms[19]—over 250 vessels since 1999.[20] There were some 1550 employees at the end of 2010, as well as 1150 subcontracted employees handling support functions including electricity, HVAC, carpentry, blasting and painting.[18][20] This was down from 10,000 total employees in 2006, of whom 3100 worked for Damen.[11] Engineering services are mainly supplied by a Galați firm established in 2004 in which Damen is the major shareholder.[21][22] Production takes place on four lines: for vessels up to 10,000 dwt, for vessels up to 26,000 dwt, for vessels up to 50,000 dwt and for tugs and workboats.[23] There is also a workshop for piping and galvanizing and a blasting and painting hall.[24][25]

Warships built

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Joint support ship
Name Class Customer Launched Fate Note
Karel Doorman Karel Doorman-class JSS   Royal Netherlands Navy 17 October 2012 In active service The hull of this ship was built in the Damen Shipyards Galați, while fitting out was done by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. Furthermore, it is shared with the German Navy.
Landing platform dock
Name Class Customer Launched Fate Note
Johan de Witt Rotterdam-class   Royal Netherlands Navy 13 May 2006 In active service Improved design of HNLMS Rotterdam (L800). Hull built at the Damen Shipyards Galați, while fitting out was done at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.
Minelayer
Name Customer Launched Fate Note
Amiral Murgescu   Romanian Naval Forces 14 June 1939 Decommissioned on 27 May 1988. Had multiple roles in her lifetime, from minelayer to repairship.
Offshore patrol vessel
Name Class Customer Launched Fate Note
Friesland Holland-class   Royal Netherlands Navy 4 November 2010 in active service Built at Damen Shipyards Galați and fitting out by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.
Groningen Holland-class   Royal Netherlands Navy 21 April 2011 in active service Built at Damen Shipyards Galați and fitting out by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.
Submarines
Name Customer Launched Fate Note
Marsuinul   Romanian Naval Forces 4 May 1941 Scrapped after November 1950 After 1944 used by the Soviet Union.
Rechinul   Romanian Naval Forces 22 May 1941 Withdrawn from active service in 1961. Got scrapped 6 years later, in 1967.
Yarmook-class corvette
Name Pennant Customer Launched Commissiong Notes
PNS Yarmook F-271 Pakistan Navy May 17, 2019 February 13, 2020[26] PNS Yarmook is named after the Battle of the Yarmuk.
PNS Tabuk F-272 September 3, 2019 November 12, 2020[27] PNS Tabuk is named after the Expedition to Tabuk.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f An illustrated history of the shipyard (PDF). Galați. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Toderașcu 1969, p. 97.
  3. ^ a b Bold 1969, p. 68.
  4. ^ Păltănea 1973, p. 6.
  5. ^ a b Toderașcu 1969, p. 98.
  6. ^ Toderașcu 1969, pp. 99–105.
  7. ^ a b Atanasiu-Croitoru 2006, p. 38.
  8. ^ Bold 1969, p. 72.
  9. ^ Raymond Stănescu, Cristian Crăciunoiu, Marina română în primul război mondial, p. 24, 31. Bucharest: Editura Modelism, 2000, ISBN 978-973-8101-04-3
  10. ^ Georgeta Filitti, "România acum o sută de ani", Magazin Istoric, November 2011, p.61
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h (in Romanian) Sorin Anghel, "Afacere bună cu vase pe bandă", Jurnalul Național, 16 October 2006; accessed February 19, 2012
  12. ^ a b (in Romanian) Bogdan Nistor, "Povestea neştiută a celor două submarine construite la Galaţi: Marsuinul şi Rechinul", Adevărul, 2 June 2015; accessed March 14, 2016
  13. ^ (in Romanian) "Motivul stupid pentru care comandorul Victor Voinescu a fost transformat din erou naţional în duşman al poporului", Adevărul, 14 August 2020; accessed March 18, 2023
  14. ^ Rumania Economic Survey, p. 28. London: Minister of Economic Warfare, 1943
  15. ^ Marin Nedelea, Istoria României in date: 1940-1995, p. 72. Bucharest: Editura Niculescu, 1997, ISBN 978-973-5681-41-8
  16. ^ a b Introduction at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  17. ^ (in Romanian) Introduction at the Galați City Hall site; accessed February 19, 2012
  18. ^ a b Organisation at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  19. ^ a b Products at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  20. ^ a b Key figures 2010 at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  21. ^ Engineering at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  22. ^ (in Romanian) About Us Archived 2011-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, at the Marine Engineering Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  23. ^ Facilities at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  24. ^ Piping & Deep Hot Galvanizing Workshop at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  25. ^ Blasting & painting hall at the Damen Shipyards Galați site; accessed February 19, 2012
  26. ^ "Commissioning ceremony of Offshore Patrol Vessel PNS 'YARMOOK'". www.damen.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  27. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (2020-11-13). "Pakistan Navy Commissions Second Yarmook-class Corvette". Naval News. Retrieved 2020-11-14.

References

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