Balenciaga Shipyard Restarts Operations With First Keel Laying

Balenciaga Shipyard has resumed active shipbuilding, holding the keel laying ceremony for its first vessel since the historic Basque facility restarted operations. The event took place at the yard in Zumaia, Gipuzkoa, and was attended by AD Ports Group representatives, Basque Government officials, suppliers and the yard's own workforce.

The Spanish yard, previously operating as Astilleros Balenciaga S.A., traces its roots to 1921 and has delivered hundreds of vessels over the past century. Its revival follows acquisition by SAFEEN Drydocks, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi's AD Ports Group, which has committed fresh investment aimed at modernising facilities, automation, workforce capability and the supply chain. Local and regional industrial partners are being drawn into the effort, preserving the yard's role as a major employer in the Zumaia area.

The vessel now under construction is an offshore support tug, the first of two such tugs in the yard's order book. Management is positioning the facility as a competitive builder for the European offshore and renewable energy segments, and is pursuing additional contracts in the offshore wind market, where demand for specialised tonnage continues to rise. Basque Government Industry Minister Mikel Jauregi welcomed the restart, while yard Director General Santiago Bardal framed the keel laying as evidence that the business is fully operational again. Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO of AD Ports Group's Maritime & Shipping Cluster, said the milestone reflected confidence in the yard's heritage and technical expertise and its capacity to serve international customers.

For Malaysian and Southeast Asian maritime and oil and gas readers, the development illustrates how a Gulf-based ports and logistics group is extending its footprint into advanced European shipbuilding to capture offshore and renewable energy demand. AD Ports Group is an increasingly active player across Asia and the Middle East, and its investment strategy signals growing competition for specialised offshore vessel construction, a segment relevant to regional yards in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The emphasis on offshore support tugs and wind-sector tonnage also reflects a broader shift in vessel demand as energy transition projects expand, offering a reference point for regional builders and operators weighing their own diversification into offshore renewables alongside traditional oil and gas support work.