The Hidramar Ultra 22000 floating dry dock, operated by Tenerife Shipyards, is expected to begin operations on September 18 following an investment of €40.7 million and more than a decade of work since the foundation stone was laid for the shipyard at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The complex was inaugurated on Wednesday at the East Dock in the presence of the Government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, while political leaders from CC and PP were absent, including the president of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Pedro Suárez, the PP candidate in La Laguna.
Hidramar CEO Jonathan Pérez highlighted the “risk” assumed by the company in trying to help develop the Canary Islands’ industrial sector and ensure that the archipelago offers more than just “sun and beach” tourism. At the same time, he lamented the “obstacle course” the company has faced since it came up with the idea in 2013. He recalled that it was CC leaders who offered them “every facility”, but that, when it came to the crunch, numerous decisions and regulations adopted by CC administrations with PP support delayed the project’s implementation, while also making the company “stronger”.
“Along the way, there have been a lot of deceptions or half-truths that have meant the project has gone through more than 11 years of bureaucratic procedures from the laying of that first stone to today, and we are still not 100% certain that we will be able to bring the dock into position next Friday, September 18,” he said. He made no attempt to hide the group’s “discontent” with CC and PP and, by contrast, thanked the PSOE and the former president of the Port Authority for their cooperation during the previous term, which helped the project move forward.
The article “Video: Blistering criticism of CC and PP at Tenerife Shipyards’ floating dry dock inauguration” was first published on canarymaritime.com.
