The floating dock Hidramar Ultra 22.000, built by Tenerife Shipyards and capable of lifting 22,000 deadweight tons, arrived at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 21st with the promise of revolutionizing the local naval industry and generating 700 direct jobs. However, its operability is threatened by the potential need to move to Gran Canaria.
The complaint comes from workers affiliated with the Trabajadores por los Puertos de Tenerife (TPT) union. Its president, Elena Ruiz, points to an unjustified delay by the Port Authority in granting the necessary water surface extension for the dock. This paralysis affects the arrival of ships, such as the Prestigious WD, which is already waiting to be dry-docked.
The issue lies with the dock's 'dolphins' (port dolphins), anchoring structures that exceed the expected surface area on the water by four meters. These dolphins were installed for the Granadilla port, but the project's stagnation, following a deserted tender for its construction, forced the dock's relocation to Santa Cruz.
Faced with the refusal to grant the additional meters in Santa Cruz, the TPT union considers the drastic option of cutting the dolphins, which would incur an extra cost of 250,000 euros, to accommodate the Prestigious WD. The vessel is currently in the south dock, undergoing work that does not require lifting, but if the problem is not resolved, it will have to seek another shipyard.
Workers warn that once removed, the dolphins cannot be reinstalled, making the option of moving the dock to Granadilla when it is finished unviable. Coupled with the fact that the Santa Cruz operation is temporary and inconvenient, they fear the Hidramar Ultra 22.000 will end up in Gran Canaria.
This situation would be a significant blow to the naval repair sector in Tenerife, as the floating dock's presence promised around 700 direct jobs that would leave the island. Atlántico Hoy has contacted the Port Authority of Tenerife but is still awaiting a response.
