Allen Marine Press Release (Shipbuilding)

Contact: Gxxx Kxxxx                                              
907-747-8100
Date: October XX, 20XX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLEN MARINE, INC. ANNOUNCES THE WORLD'S FIRST ALUMINUM FLOATING DRY DOCK

Allen Marine, Inc. is pleased to announce the construction of the world's first aluminum floating dry dock. This fully self-contained, eco-friendly unit represents a major breakthrough in boat-lifting equipment.

The aluminum floating dry dock is the brainchild of CEO David Allen. The dry dock is 140 feet long, with 42 feet of space between the 26-foot tall floating wing walls. It is capable of lifting vessels of up to 1000 tons, at 5 LT/feet of keel block loading.

"Our floating dry dock is unique because it's made entirely of Marine-grade aluminum, a high-caliber alloy that has come into use just within the past 10 years," explains David Allen. "This alloy is equal to steel in terms of durability and strength, but it's so much lighter than steel, and therefore more practical to use."

"Also, our floating dry dock is a low-maintenance solution," Allen continues. "With steel, you have to constantly paint it so it won't rust. You don't paint aluminum – you leave it bare. The floating dry dock includes a cathodic protection system that protects it from salt water degrading."

Many marina operators and boatyard owners would like to build a new dry dock at their facility, but can't do it because they don't have room. Often, residential or commercial developers have bought up the waterfront land surrounding a marina or boatyard, leaving no place to install a shore-based dry dock.

Allen Marine's floating dry dock provides a unique solution to this problem. You can install the dry dock just offshore, and connect it to a marina or boatyard via a ramp. You can place it on a bulkhead, or stabilize it in water using piles or spuds. You don't need to buy new land, or apply for land or environmental permits, to install the floating dry dock.

The floating dry dock compliments boatyards and marinas that already have land-based dry docks. Boatyard owners can use the floating dry dock to provide quick cleaning, diagnostic, and surveying services for boats, while using their shore-based dry dock for long-term jobs such as re-fits and engine replacements. This combination attracts more boat owners as customers, and provides an excellent ROI for the boatyard owner.

Also, the aluminum floating dry dock is a very portable solution. You can disassemble the dry dock into three modules, ship it by air, and reassemble it anywhere. When the dry dock is fully assembled but unoccupied by a vessel, you can store or transport it in very shallow water.

"Instead of bringing a ship all the way to the dry dock, you can bring the floating dry dock out to where the ships are located and use it there," explains Dave Bryant, Allen Marine's Director of Research and Design Implementation. "When the dry dock is unloaded, you can move it easily through a low river or over a sandbar and take it to a deeper location, where you can secure it using portable spuds."

The floating dry dock allows marina and boatyard owners to perform cleaning operations in full compliance with environmental laws. All wash-off from boat cleanings is collected in the dry dock's slurry tank, and can then be disposed of or treated with an optional water treatment system.

The Allen Marine floating dry dock has very low operational costs, requiring only a portable generator set for the boat lift. Also, while the standard size is 140 feet x 56 feet x 20 feet, Allen Marine can build an aluminum floating dry dock to specifications provided by the marina or boatyard owner.

About Allen Marine, Inc.

Founded in 1967, Allen Marine, Inc. builds and operates ships and structures for the commercial marine market. Headquartered in Sitka, Alaska, Allen Marine has gained a healthy reputation for quality by providing clients with innovative designs and dependable, environmentally-safe vessels, marine bridges, and dry docks.

Allen Marine's clients include ship owners and operators, maritime business leaders, government organizations, oil drilling and exploration companies, passenger and ferry terminals, marine environmental companies, and national and state park services.

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