Balenciaga Shipyard today held the keel laying ceremony of its first vessel since restarting operations, marking a significant milestone in the recovery and renewal of one of the Basque Country’s most historic shipbuilding facilities. The ceremony, held at the yard in Zumaia, Gipuzkoa, was attended by representatives of AD Ports Group, the Basque Government, institutional partners, suppliers, and the shipyard’s own workforce.

Balenciaga Shipyard, formerly known as Astilleros Balenciaga S.A., has been part of the Basque maritime landscape since 1921. Over more than a century, the yard has built hundreds of vessels, becoming a reference in the Spanish naval industry and a cornerstone of the local economy in Zumaia and the surrounding area. The yard’s recent acquisition by SAFEEN Drydocks, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group of Abu Dhabi, has opened a new phase in its history — one defined by renewed investment, industrial ambition, and a commitment to the Basque workforce and community.

 The vessel under construction is an offshore support tug, one of two offshore tugs being built which form part of an active order book that positions Balenciaga Shipyard as a credible and competitive builder for the European offshore and renewable energy market. The yard is targeting further contracts in the offshore wind sector, where demand for specialized vessels continues to grow.

 Under its new ownership, Balenciaga Shipyard is investing in its workforce, facilities, automation, and supply chain. The yard is working with local and regional industrial partners, maintaining its role as an anchor employer in Zumaia and the broader Gipuzkoa economy.

• Balenciaga Shipyard, formerly known as Astilleros Balenciaga S.A., is a shipbuilding yard located in Zumaia, Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, Spain.
• Founded in 1921, the yard has more than a century of shipbuilding history and specializes in the construction of offshore support vessels, tugs, and specialized maritime vessels.
• Balenciaga Shipyard is owned by SAFEEN Drydocks, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group (Abu Dhabi, UAE) operating under Noatum Maritime.

• Established in 2006, AD Ports Group today serves as a global enabler of trade, logistics, and industry, as well as a bridge linking Abu Dhabi to the world.
• Listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX: ADPORTS), AD Ports Group’s vertically integrated business approach has proven instrumental in driving the Emirate’s economic development over the past decade.
• Operating five business clusters covering Ports, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Maritime & Shipping, Logistics, and Digital, AD Ports Group’s portfolio comprises 38 terminals, with a presence in over 50 countries, and more than 570 square kilometres of economic zones within KEZAD Group, the largest integrated trade, logistics, and industrial business grouping in the Middle East.