The ship repair industry has established itself as one of the key pillars of the Spanish naval sector, playing a critical role in the operability of national shipyards. In the context of the Maritime Trends 3 congress held at the Mar de Vigo Auditorium, key figures such as Guillermo Ramos of Zamakona Yards analyzed the present situation of this activity alongside representatives from Metalships & Docks and Nodosa Group.
During the meeting, Ramos and the other experts highlighted that while conventional repair retains its weight, the current business is shifting towards emerging vectors of high profitability. The rise of defense and offshore wind infrastructure is driving demand that forces shipyards to engage in constant technical specialization. Nevertheless, the clear directive from Zamakona Yards and its counterparts is diversification: not to bet on a single strategy to ensure long-term global competitiveness.
The event, organized by Asime, not only focused on ‘iron’ and the dry dock but also on safety and cutting-edge technology. José Luis García Lena from Maritime Rescue provided operational insights emphasizing that innovation is the only way to manage increasingly dense and extreme maritime traffic. The use of iSAR drones and the artificial intelligence platform SMarAI are emerging as the tools that will accompany the national industry in this new era.
The congress concluded with full institutional support, featuring the closing remarks from the president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, and the mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero. For professionals like Guillermo Ramos, the event reaffirms that the future of Spanish shipyards lies in an anticipatory and technologically advanced model, where naval repair continues to be the engine of resilience in the face of challenges posed by an ever-evolving maritime environment.
