Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Somerset, Mass., has completed a series of facility upgrades supported by federal and state grants aimed at improving safety and operational efficiency at the yard.
The projects were funded in part through a Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration (Marad) and an additional award from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). Yard officials said the improvements benefit more than 80 employees involved in building and refitting high-speed ferries, pilot boats, research vessels, and other commercial craft.
At its 12,000-sq.-ft. Walker Street facility, the yard replaced heavy bi-fold doors that required multiple cranes and workers to operate. According to company officials, the old doors were difficult to use, which limited how often the space could be accessed. The new doors can be opened and closed by a single worker in a matter of minutes, allowing the shop area to be used more consistently.
Grant funding also supported the purchase of a custom 35-ton, self-propelled Hostar trailer designed to move vessels under 60' more safely within the yard. The split-design trailer can back under a hull and support it using sliding keel beams and hydraulic arms. In addition to rubber tires, the unit is fitted with cradle wheels, allowing it to launch boats on the yard’s marine railway and move vessels between work areas without relying on multiple crane lifts. Yard officials said the previous method of transferring boats with cranes was more time-consuming and complex. As part of the Small Shipyard Grant Program's 2022 awards, total grant funding amounted to $949,899.
A separate $360,800 MassCEC grant was used to construct a covered plate storage area. The new structure allows steel plating to be stored on racks outdoors while remaining protected from weather exposure, improving material handling and workflow.
Gladding-Hearn said the upgrades are part of ongoing efforts to modernize its Somerset facility and improve day-to-day operations while maintaining a focus on employee safety.
