• 6 min de lectura
• 6 min de lectura
The characteristic postcard of the Port of Valparaíso has elements that are always present in the composition: the towers of the Puerto station and the National Customs Directorate, the docks with ships moored and others further out at sea, the sea stretching to the horizon; but there is another piece that has remained fixed in the picture for decades in the middle of the bay: the Valparaíso III floating dry dock.
Under the responsibility of Sociedad Iberoamericana de Reparaciones Navales (Sociber), the shipyard became part of the landscape, heritage, and identity of the port city, its presence dating back to its installation in 1985 to replace another dry dock, Valparaíso II, which succumbed to a fierce storm, taking five heroic souls with it.
Today, as the port facility advances its expansion project, the future of Valparaíso III is to remain in the same bay, but not in the same location.
The construction of the new Costanera Site and its operation implies moving the floating dry dock to another nearby space, a task that has technical complexities due to its nature. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare and analyze every factor involved in this maneuver. This was emphasized by Sociber General Manager, Sidney Chellew, -within the framework of the eleventh version of the Logistics and Foreign Trade Meeting (Enloce) 2026- who explained to PortalPortuario that "we are advancing in the studies to displace our dry dock."
What does the floating dry dock mean for Valparaíso?
We identify tremendously with this city, because we are part of Valparaíso's heritage, as we point out. Valparaíso has had dry docks since 1857 and practically continuously. Regarding the company, I would say that we have grown in the business, in diversifying. So much so, that we are already launching or socializing that we are going to industrial services, that is, maritime terminals, desalination plants and all the industry where we can do the characteristic work we always do: hull cleaning, piping, valves, mechanics, also structural work with welders.
We could also participate in projects where we are the integrators of larger projects; we have had contact with all the companies that are in the Ventanas – Quintero area and throughout Chile. We are willing to grow in all that is called the industrial area. This expansion is nationwide, in any case. In fact, we are subcontractors of Asmar, which, in part, is related to us, because they also have part of the property and we have workers in Talcahuano and, we even do work in Punta Arenas. We have worked on some emergencies in Mejillones, Antofagasta, San Antonio, etc.
How has this year been for Sociber?
Last year was the best result for the company in its 40 years of existence, it was a truly spectacular result. Unfortunately, this year with great effort we will achieve a positive result, because we were greatly affected by the fishing industry in terms of the jack mackerel resource moving and, by moving, it generated a difference in the planning of fishing vessels that normally come here between July and November.
So we had many cancellations, but with contacts and our prestige we have managed to gradually recover some clients. What happens is that, colloquially speaking, the game is ending, there are few minutes left in the game, so an additional effort must be made to have a good result at the end of the year.
The expansion of the Port of Valparaíso, what does it mean for Sociber and the floating dry dock?
For us, the port expansion will generate a movement, we have to move Valparaíso III to another position and we are advancing in the studies to displace our dry dock.
The important thing is that this expansion left us the space to stay in the port, because in previous opportunities that possibility was ruled out and any expansion would have meant that Valparaíso would be left without a dry dock. So, from that point of view, it has been very positive, we worked very coordinated with Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso for this to become a reality.
What challenges does this change of location involve?
The complexity lies, subsequently, in reconnecting to land, because regardless of the fact that it seems we are in the middle of the bay, we have our water, electrical and all underwater connections. So, I would say that technically that is the most complicated part, apart from the anchoring of all the anchors. We have ten anchors, we are anchored with a lot of weight; in fact, during the storm I had a view through digital systems of how the dry dock moved and, truthfully, it moved very little. In the new position, it will probably move a little more, but studies have already been done that it will not affect safety.
Will the dry dock be less protected by the breakwater?
It will be a little more exposed, but it depends, because there are storms that come with a more northerly orientation; now, if it comes from the northwest or west-northwest, then it would not affect us as much or we would be in the same conditions as now.
What are the upcoming challenges for Sociber?
We are taking great care of our dry dock, I mean that we have a maintenance plan to make it last for many years, to work safely and to provide safety to clients. We are classified by a Japanese classification society, we have the certificate from the maritime authority, but we need the resources to take care of our dry dock and we are looking for that in our expansion into the industrial sector.
What is the useful life of the Valparaíso III dry dock?
We have not studied it exactly, but I have seen riveted dry docks that are 80 years old; that is, this dry dock, as we are taking care of it, I would dare to say that it could be afloat for at least 30 more years.
In 30 years, we could only begin to think about renovating the dry dock...
Of course, that has to be seen in strategic planning, but for now what it is telling us is that we only have to take care of the material and our main asset which is the Valparaíso III dry dock and all its equipment, its elements that make up the assets that generate production.