Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina (BHSM) recently installed the 500-ton floating drydock, Providence. The drydock was built in 2021 by Conrad Shipyards, Morgan City, La., and engineered by JMS Naval Architects, Mystic, Conn.
Previously owned by Biblia, Inc., Savannah, Ga., the drydock was acquired by BHSM and transported to Boston as part of a broader effort to expand local marine service capacity.
The 120’x60’ drydock measures 46’ between its wingwalls. It features eight ballast tanks, each with a remotely operated pump and flood gate valve. BHSM said the system is fully computer-controlled from a central control station, and 12 LevelCOM sensors monitor the tank levels and draft at all four corners for accurate leveling. The drydock is outfitted with 10 sliding side-bilge blocks (five per side) which move along tracks to support various hull configurations.
The Providence can haul vessels up to 500 tons and accommodate boats measuring 150’ or longer, depending on beam and weight.
"This is the first floating drydock that has been here in a very long time," a BHSM spokesperson told WorkBoat. The site, formerly operated by Bethlehem Steel, once housed multiple graving and floating drydocks, though none are currently operational.
"There is a great shortage of places in the harbor for these ferries and larger commercial vessels to get pulled for service," said Marshall Greenland, BHSM property manager.
In preparation for the drydock's arrival, the shipyard upgraded its pier with new electrical and water utilities, including modifications to support heavier cranes, equipment, and vehicles. A support barge was also added to provide extra tool and equipment storage for drydock operations.
The drydock acquisition was driven by increased demand in Boston Harbor for local servicing of mid-size vessels, BHSM said. “We had been hearing from the customers for years now about how they had to travel long distances to be serviced,” the shipyard told WorkBoat. They added that both water transportation and offshore wind support vessels have seen increased activity in the harbor.
Additional shipyard projects this month include the installation of an 80-ton boat lift.
