The current effort of Front Street Shipyard is to expand with more land, facilities as well as equipment. The owners of Front Street Shipyard have intentions to lease or purchase city property on which they will construct a further boat shop. The new facility would bring enough work for at least 40 new jobs, in addition to the workforce, which is already approaching 100 employees.
The new expansion is part of Front Street Shipyard’s second phase of growth. Since launching the company in January 2011, Front Street Shipyard has erected an expansive waterfront facility and also purchased neighboring Belfast Boat Yard. Front Street Shipyard is also considering investing in a 300-metric-ton marine hoist that will haul superyachts.
“We’re proud of how quickly and efficiently we’ve been able to grow here in Belfast so far,” said JB Turner, president of Front Street Shipyard. “The town and its residents have been amazingly supportive, and we’d like to continue attracting bigger yachts and more work to this region. We hope to see Belfast become a major yachting center on the east coast.”
In only two years, Front Street Shipyard has grown into the Northeast’s largest shipyard north of Newport, Rhode Island. With the addition of expanded facilities and a 300-ton Travelift, Front Street Shipyard will be equipped to service some of the larger superyachts in the world.
The yard now has 72,555 square feet of space for yacht storage and 10,320 square feet of shop space on a six-acre property with 1,500 feet of waterfront. There is an additional seven acres of off-site storage space. Front Street Shipyard currently employs 96 people.