Trinity shipyard
experiencing construction boom
Trinity- Eight boats including two 55 foot
longliners and six smaller boats up to 35 feet long are under
construction here at Vokey’s Shipyard.
Spokesman for the yard, Wayne Vokey said there’s
enough work at the shipyard to keep its 15 employees busy until June ,
and work is expected to pick up in the new year with construction of
three more boats.
More people are expected to be hired at that time.
“It’s the busiest time for the yard over the past
seven or eight years, and it is expected to get busier as more and more
fishermen place orders for the construction of wooden boats,” said Mr.
Vokey.
Over the past five or six years work at the yard
has been slow with only four or five people employed building small
fishing boats.
“To get things underway, the yard secured a loan
guarantee for $400,000 from the provincial Department of Finance, to
keep the yard operating while waiting for payment of boats under
construction,” said Mr. Vokey.
Of the $400,000 guaranteed loan about $150,000 is
used for operating expenses. Almost half of it goes for bonding, said
Mr. Vokey.
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