offshore oil and gas operators working off Apprenticeships West and North Africa. In the past year Gibdock has a firm commitment to the yard has worked on seismic vessels, training future generations of skilled platform supply vessels, dive support technicians and managers. A four-year vessels, pipe-layers, anchor handling apprenticeship scheme run in partnership tug supply (AHTS) vessels and semi- with the Government of Gibraltar offers submersibles. young Gibraltarians the opportunity to gain a wide range of skills in the yard Cruise ships while following an approved route to Gibdock carried out work on two cruise NVQ qualifications. ships in 2014 – the Saga Ruby and the “We believe passionately that we must Thomson Dream, demonstrating the not only provide the next generation of yard’s breadth of skills, flexibility and skilled staff to meet our customers’ ability to work under very tight time needs but also provide opportunities pressures. The combination of both for employment to young people in ‘traditional’ ship-repair and painting work Gibraltar,” says Richard Beards. “Another and refurbishment of a cruise ship’s six apprentices started with us early “We are ‘hotel’ areas makes for some significant in 2015. Ten others will finish off the logistical challenges, including working apprenticeship programme this year.” just a short with outside contractors and the cruise Gibdock also supports and utilises lines’ own teams. local skills whenever it can, working with distance from “More and more niche market cruise local small companies and suppliers. ships are coming to us,” says Richard the cruise Beards. “We are just a short distance Gibdock dimensions from the cruise terminal, offering owners Drydock No 1 272 x 38 x 10 metres terminal, an unrivalled opportunity to undertake Drydock No 2 184 x 29 x 11 metres repairs either in drydock or alongside to Drydock No 3 154 x 29 x 11 metres offering the highest standards and within their with a retractable cover with 29.5 pre-planned schedules, avoiding both metres clearance owners an operational deviation and re-delivery Main Wharf 300 x 9.5 metres delays.” South Mole 435 x 11 metres unrivalled The Saga Ruby was in drydock for just Fabrication Area 100 x 40 metres 13 days, during which the scope of work opportunity” Richard Beards, increased significantly – all of which was Gibdock approvals completed within the original deadline. OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health & Managing Director, Gibdock Peter Wright, Saga Cruises Head of Safety Commercial said: “The yard rose to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management occasion and delivered what we asked System for, and more. We have used Gibdock ISO 9001 Quality Management System before and they have always done a ISPS International Ship and Port Facility good job. The location was perfect for Security Code this particular project as well.”.