AFDL-21

AFDL-21 Class Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock:

Laid down by George D. Auchter Co., Jacksonville, FL.

Commissioned AFD-21, date unknown

Redesignated AFDL-21, 1 August 1946

Decommissioned, date unknown

Transferred to the Philippines navy in 1961, redesignated YD-204

Struck from the Naval Register, 31 March 1989

Sold to Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp.. SALVTUG, 16 March 1990, in service at Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines

Specifications:
Displacement 12,000 t.
Length 200'
Beam 64'
Inside width 45'
Draft 3' 3" (lt), 31' 4" (flooded)
Lifting capacity 1,000 tons

subicdock

Photo taken in November, 2010 from aboard c.s. Cable Retriever, berthed at Rivera Point, SBMA
SUBICDOCK
SUBIC DRYDOCK CORPORATION

ADDRESS: TEL NO: FAX NO:		Bldg. 17 Gridley cor. Schley Roads SRF Compound,Subic Bay Freeport Zone 2222 Philippines (047) 252-8183 to 85 & 89 (047) 252-8201

Floating drydock back at Subic Freeport

June 04, 2007

By Malou Dungog

http://biz.balita.ph/html/article.php?story=20070604132851315

Fifteen years after the floating dry dock was towed out of Subic Bay as part of the 1992 US base withdrawal, the sophisticated equipment has been returned here as this premier Freeport zone is now back in ship repair business.

Subic Drydock, a subsidiary of prominent U.S.-based ship repair service provider Cabras Marine Corporation, announced the arrival of AFDM-5 floating dry dock on Saturday which would revive the operations of the defunct Ship Repair Facilities (SRF) here.

Cabras is a private firm which has been considered as the leading ship repair service provider of tug-boats, salvage vessels, and waterfront maintenance for the US Navy and commercial vessels in Guam and Micronesia for over 30 years.

Shutdown in 1992 after the historic withdrawal of US Naval troops and facilities, the floating dry docks (AFDM-5) was towed to Hawaii, displacing thousands of highly-skilled direct Filipino ship repair employees and indirect workers.

Cabras, through its sister company, Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. (MTSC) was able to purchase the AFDM-5 to the State-government of Guam after the US Armed Forces donated the sophisticated ship repair machinery after it was decommissioned supposedly for lack of operational and technical manpower that "belongs to former Filipino base workers."

In October 2005, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga and administrator Armand C. Arreza signed a long-term lease contract with Subic Drydock Corporation President and CEO Catalino Bondoc for the setting up of a P275 million ship repair facilities.

Salonga said that the return of the floating dry dock would open job opportunities, particularly to those highly skilled US base workers who were trained and used to be employed with the SRF during US Navy days.

Shortly after the contract signing, Bondoc clarified that while the floating docks were strictly utilized for military purpose, it will now be servicing commercial clienteles for ships like inter-island sized vessels and ferries.

He added that Subic Dry Dock would also be offering ship repair service to Philippine Navy ships and other Navy vessels of countries within the Asia-Pacific region.

Bondoc also disclosed that international shipping market will be the primary target client of the project, particularly vessels operating in the Asian Region. These vessels are represented by international shipping agents composed mostly of customers of Malayan group of companies.

Subic Dry Dock will also be eyeing service contracts with 88 domestic shipping companies operating 315 domestic vessels.

Subic Dry Dock will also process to secure the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) and be accredited for US Navy ship repair contracts that require dry docking and repair services particularly from the Military Sealift Command based in Yokohama, Japan .

"Initially, we will be hiring 150 workers which will be made up of former SRF workers who will also be in-charge as trainers to new breed and young ship repair workers," Subic Dock Project Director Gerald Hammond said.

The project will be employing 600 skilled and semi-skilled workers composed mostly of those who used to be stationed in the SRF area for their familiarity on the dock and at the same time train apprentices.

The company's total capital expenditure of P276 million will be used to acquire the dry docks amounting to P165 million while the remaining amount of P110 million would be allocated for the improvement berthing and other port facilities of the Bravo pier inside the SRF compound such as the administrative office building, machine shop and warehouse.

The AFDM-5 floating dry dock is a wielded structural steel, capable of accommodating ships of 18,000 tons displacement with length-span of up to 150 meters.

Subic Freeport bested other port areas that the company explored for the setting-up of its ship repair facility project such as the Sarangani Bay in General Santos and Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam .

The ship repair facility is expected to be completed and operational in two months after the arrival of another dry dock to support its operations and upgrade handling capabilities that will surely bring new hope and bright future to former SRF workers. (PNA)

Subic floating drydock capable of servicing 18,000 tonner ships

Floating dry dock a boost to Subic ship-repair industry

By Henry Empeño , manila standard, Dec 12, 2007


SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Fifteen years after it was towed out of Subic Bay during the withdrawal of the US Navy, the Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium 5 (AFDM-5) is now happily bringing back the glory days of Subic’s ship-repair industry.

Long regarded as a familiar fixture at Subic’s Ship Repair Facility until 1992, the AFDM-5 is now back to its old home at Bravo Pier here—a bulky, seemingly ungainly hulk of machinery that, despite the passage of years, is helping Subic gain new fame as a center for maritime commerce.

The AFDM-5 is essentially a marine garage where vessels can be brought in for repairs or maintenance.

But this special garage—which can be submerged under a marine vessel, then raised to lift the vessel out of the water—is now again the shining star at Bravo Pier, where the newly formed Subic Drydock Corp. (Subicdock) has established, in the last six months, a thriving ship-repair operation.

Subicdock general manager Gerald “Gerry” James Hammond, a former US Navy officer, said that since the AFDM-5 was brought back to Subic in June, it has already serviced 18 vessels—an average of three ship-repair projects each month.

“We have already serviced many ships, including our own tugboats and barges,” said Hammond, who got his first assignment in the US Navy as dock personnel in 1976 and served onboard for 13 years.

“Right now we got the superferry Westpac Express out from Guam,” Hammond said proudly, referring to the high-speed vessel used by the US Marines’ Military Sealift Command (MSC). “We got a lot of float repairs, but this is really the first US float we got since we opened up.”

With the AFDM-5’s capacity to take in ships weighing up to 18,000 tons and spanning up to 150 meters, Subicdock’s P275-million ship-repair venture here is turning out to be a highly viable investment, said Subicdock president Catalino Bondoc.

“It took us a lot of money to bring the dry dock in here, but we are happy because it is now clear in our mind what we are planning to do with this facility,” he added.

It was Bondoc, who, as chief executive officer of Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp., brought the AFDM-5 back to Subic in June after proposing the ship-repair facility project to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Brought to Guam in 1992 when the US Navy departed from Subic, the AFDM-5 first served in the repair of small- and medium-sized vessels of the US Marine’s MSC, as well as commercial ships.

Thereafter, it was sold to Cabras Marine Corp., a private ship-repair company based in Guam and Micronesia.

In 1999 Cabras awarded the AFDM-5 to its subsidiary Malayan Towage, the largest towage and salvage company in the Philippines, reportedly for P165 million. Malayan, thereafter, towed the floating dry dock to Manila and put in place additional equipment, including a 100-ton-capacity floating crane.

In June 2007, to the delight of some 50 former Subic dry-dock workers, AFDM-5 arrived at Bravo Pier to regain its title as the centerpiece of Subic’s ship-repair industry.

Since then, the AFDM-5 had shown “exceptional performance” in the hands of its veteran crew, said James Edge, director of the Asian Navigation Ltd., a customer of Subicdock.

“The shipyard has been working the whole hours to ensure that the deadlines are met, and the jobs are delivered on time. So, instead of going somewhere else, vessels now go to Subic for repairs,” said Edge, who also said that Subicdock’s newfound reputation for reliability is spreading in the maritime industry.

The good news about Subicdock must have also reached businessmen who knew a winner when they see one. According to Bondoc, some Japanese and Indonesian businessmen have lately offered $7 million for the AFDM-5, but he turned down the proposals.

“We know that ship repair is a viable operation here in Subic, and there are lots of services we can do for the shipping industry in this area. There is a lot more that we can do here in Subic than what we can do with the $7 million,” Bondoc said.

Because of the AFDM-5, Bondoc said that Subicdock is now able to compete with ship-repair facilities in the United States—like Guam, for example, which has an AFDB, or Auxiliary Floating Drydock Big.

Bondoc said Subicdock’s competitiveness stems from Subic’s free- port status, which allows the firm to bring in machinery and materials tax-free, as well as Subic’s pool of skilled manpower that is relatively cheaper than those in other countries.

“We are really in for a long term here in Subic because of this edge, which is very cost-effective for us and our customers,” he added.

Bondoc also said that while Subicdock is gearing to provide ship-repair services, it is also considering a long-term plan for boat assembly in partnership with European watercraft designers and builders.

“We could have a technical tie-up wherein they could bring parts for, say, tugboats and we will assemble them. Our prospective partners could also use Subic as a base to sell or export our products,” he said.

SUBIC DRY DOCK BACK IN BUSINESS & SHIP REPAIR WORK COMING IN

Subic's reberthed dry dock is bringing repair orders in
Floating drydock revives Subic ship repair industry‏

dec 2007

Almost a decade and a half ago, Filipino workers watched in gloomy silence while she was towed away to her new home at a US military base in Guam.

Now, the Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium 5 (AFDM-5) — operated mostly by its former technicians during US Navy days is reviving the ship repair industry here-- helping Subic re-establish its status as a maritime center.

The AFDM-5 is now the main feature at Subic’s Bravo Pier, where the newly formed Subic Drydock Corporation (Subicdock) has established in the last six months a base for the operation of a ship repair facility.

Former US Navy officer Gerald “Gerry” James Hammond, who now serves as Subicdock general manager, said that since the AFDM-5 was brought back to Subic last June, it has already serviced 18 clients.

“We have already serviced many ships, including our own vessels — tugboats and barges,” said Hammond, who got his first assignment in the US Navy as dock personnel in 1976 and remained on board for 13 years.

“Now we got the super ferry Westpac Express out from Guam. We got a lot of float repairs, but (the Westpac Express) was really the first US float we got since we opened up,” he said, referring to the high-speed super ferry used by the US Military Sealift Command (MSC), which is undergoing repair here.

Now, the “exceptional performance” of the AFDM-equipped 18,000-ton capacity Subicdock is spreading all over the shipping community, said James Edge, director of the Asian Navigation Ltd., which is a customer of Subicdock.

“The shipyard has been working the whole hours to ensure that the deadlines are met, and the jobs have been delivered on time. So, instead of going somewhere else, vessels now go to Subic for repairs,” said Edge.

Subicdock president Catalino Bondoc, who, Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. (MTSC) chief executive officer, brought the AFDM-5 to Subic last June, said the floating drydock is proving to be a precious piece of floating structural machinery despite the passing years.

Brought to Guam in 1992 when the US naval base in Subic Bay closed, the AFDM-5 was used for the repair of small- and medium-sized vessels of the US Marine’s Military Sealift Command, as well as commercial ships.

Thereafter, it was sold to Cabras Marine Corporation, a private company rendering ship repair services in Guam and Micronesia.

In 1999, the AFDM-5 was awarded to Bondoc’s Malayan Towage, the largest towage and salvage company in the Philippines, reportedly in the amount of P165 million.

It was then brought to Manila and equipped with additional equipment, including a 100-ton capacity floating crane.

In June 2007, to the delight of the more than 50 former Subic drydock workers, AFDM-5 arrived at Bravo Pier to regain its title as the star of Subic’s maritime industry.

Bondoc revealed that after the AFDM-5 was installed at Subic, Japanese and Indonesian businessmen have approached him on several occasions to express their interest to buy the drydock for US million, but he turned down the offers.

“We know that ship repair is a viable operation here in Subic, and there are lots of services we can do for the shipping industry in this area. That is a lot better than what we can do with the million dollars,” Bondoc said.

Today, Bondoc said the Subic drydock is now competing with US ship repair facilities, like that of Guam which has a bigger drydock.

“We started with the Bravo Pier which was already in a deteriorating condition. But now, it is superbly capable of doing everything, as we have already restored every part of the area, including the catwalk,” he said.

Bondoc added that because the company is located in a free port zone, they could bring in machineries and materials tax free.

“So we have that edge. It’s very cost effective for us and the customers, so we really in for a long term here,” he said. “It took us a lot of money to bring the drydock in here, but we are happy because it is now clear in our mind what we are planning to do with this facility,” he added.

Bondoc also said that while the company is gearing to provide ship repair services, it is also considering a long term plan for boat assembly with European businessmen who design and build all types of watercraft.

“Depending on our capabilities here, we could have a technical tie-up wherein they could bring parts for, say, a tugboat and we will assemble them. Our prospective partners could also use Subic as a base to sell or export tugboats,” he said.

As a free port, Subic would provide advantage for the planned joint venture, Bondoc said, because of the business incentives and the skilled labor, which is also cheaper compared to those in neighboring countries. (PNA)

SubicDock acquires new drydock facility

Subic Drydock Corp. (SubicDock), a company providing ship repair and new building services in this free port, is now ready to take on more customers following its acquisition of another drydocking facility.

SubicDock president Catalino Bondoc, said the firm acquired recently the AFDL-21, a small auxiliary floating dry dock, and has installed it at Subic’s Bravo Pier alongside the AFDM-5, a medium auxiliary floating dry dock, that the firm brought here last year.

The SFDL-21, which has a length of 200 feet and a beam of 64 feet, has a lifting capacity of 1,000 tons, while the bigger AFDM-5, which has an overall length of 622 feet and an extreme beam of 124 feet, can lift vessels up to 18,000 tons.

“With these two dry docks, we are now able to serve a wider range of vessels and aim to be one of the leaders in the Philippine ship repair industry,” Bondoc said during a familiarization tour for shipping agents and prospective clients.

“Our company vision,” Bondoc added, “is to be a world-class provider of ship repair, overhauling, installation, fabrication, and port general services.”

SubicDock brought the AFDM-5 to its former home in Subic last year after it served at the Guam Shipyard since 1992, when the US Navy towed the dry dock to Guam as it pulled out from the former Subic Naval Base.

The AFDL-21, meanwhile, was transferred to the Philippine Navy in 1961, but was sold to Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. in March 1990.

Since its operation here in October last year, SubicDock has been attracting a growing list of customers, including vessels owned by the US Navy, the North Korean fishing fleet, and Austel Shipping, an Australian firm operating high speed ferries.

The firm had since received a 2001 certification of compliance from the RINA Society (Registro Italiano Novale) of Italy, Bondoc added.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Feliciano Salonga, who attended the recent briefing, said SubicDock’s ship repair facilities boost Subic’s bid to become a major international maritime center.

“We’ve got it all here,” Salonga said. “Subic has a deep, natural harbor for ships, tax-free environment for business, and skilled but comparatively cheap manpower.”

Bondoc said SubicDock is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cabras Marine Corp., a US-based maritime services organization with over 30 years experience in providing tugboat, salvage, pilotage and waterfront services for the US Navy and commercial ocean-going vessels in Guam and Micronesia.

By Ric Sapnu (The Philippine Star) Updated March 31, 2008

Machinist (AFDB-8)

AFDB-8 Class Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock :

Built, in 1980, by Seebeck, Shipbuilding GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany

Delivered and placed in service in June 1980 as Machinist (AFDB-8)

Allocated to Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippines

Placed out of service, circa 1992

Struck from the Naval Register, 23 April 1997

Sold, 23 April 1997, for commercial service to Guam Industrial Services Shipyard

Specifications:
Displacement unknown
Length 825'
Beam 175'
Draft unknown
Complement unknown
Armament none

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Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	127k	Machinist (AFDB-8) at Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines, date unknown.		Bob Gregory YA-03 WESTPAC Maintenance PMgr. Berthing & Messing PMgr. COMPACFLT N433
	62k	Machinist (AFDB-8) and USS Brunswick (ATS-3) at Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines, 3 April 1992. Brunswick towed Machinist from Subic Bay to Pearl Harbor during the US military withdrawal from Subic Bay. DOD photo # DNST9207048 by Roger Dutcher, JO2 USN.		Defense Imagery.mil
	69k	Aerial view of ex-Machinist (AFDB-8) in commercial service for Guam Ship Yard, Apra Harbor Guam, circa 2008.		Bob Gregory
	45k	Ex-Machinist (AFDB-8) sunk at Guam Ship Yard, Apra Harbor Guam, January 2011.
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