After a quiet first 118 years,
Fraser Shipyards aggressively targets growth

 
These two Great Lakes vessels — the U.S.-Flagged Edward L. Ryerson and the Canadian-flagged Frontenac — are calling Fraser Shipyards home during this
winter’s layup season.

Tucked away in the quiet waters of Superior’s Howard’s Pocket is Fraser Shipyards — an important business in the Twin Ports that for most of its first 118 years has done little to call attention to itself. That is about to change.

“We are becoming a more active member of the maritime society of the Great Lakes,” said Gene Walroos, general manager. “We plan to undertake more of the activity that we used to be known for.”
Gene Walroos, general manager, is part of Fraser Shipyards’ new leadership team.
As the Great Lakes fleet ages, that activity would include, but not be limited to, major modifications and rehabs, repowerings and retrofits, such as for emissions compliance. New builds — barges, if not ships — might also be on the horizon.
This unlikely little craft presides over the shipyards’ land entrance in Superior.

Mr. Walroos is part of the new leadership team that has been put in place by owner Todd Johnson. Others in the team are James Korthals, president and chief operating officer; John Boutin, project engineer (and naval architect); and Kevin Jones, director of operations, who represents Northern Engineering Co.

The shipyards’ new business philosophy includes direct involvement by the owner, who has been personally calling on vessel owners to determine their needs and explain Fraser’s capabilities. Mr. Johnson points to the yards’ recent acquisition of four 75-ton rough-terrain cranes as evidence of his commitment to service and growth. (That brought the yards’ total complement of cranes to eight.)

In addition to the yards’ new cranes, Fraser also has recently invested in automated welding equipment, a new burning table, metal forming equipment and machining tools. “We’re not high tech,” said Mr. Boutin, “but we’re very specialized.”

He added that Fraser is “expanding our knowledge base. We have room for more work here, and we intend to get it.”

“We want to become more active,” said Mr. Korthals. “And we’re not afraid of investing to grow. We’re strong, and we want to be stronger.”

Fraser Shipyards occupies 60-plus acres right on the harbor and is a favorite sight for drivers high overhead on the Blatnik Bridge. The yards include two dry docks, a fabricating shop, a machine shop and other buildings, including one for administration.

What Fraser does, simply put, is fix all things nautical. “We’re a one-stop shop,” said Mr. Walroos. “And if you can’t come to us, we’ll go to you.”

Crews from Fraser routinely trek to places like Silver Bay, Two Harbors and Taconite Harbor on Lake Superior’s Minnesota shore and Ashland on the lake’s Wisconsin side. “We can take the show on the road,” said Mr. Walroos, “and we can get most everything done there. We’ll meet the vessels where they dock, and we’re available 24/7.”

In fact, one of Mr. Walroos’s fondest work memories centers on a situation that found the John J. Boland arriving for unscheduled repairs on a New Year’s Eve. A stern tube seal had failed, and shipyard workers had to expose the prop to get at the job.

Mr. Walroos said, “We got the Boland in dry dock almost immediately, got the work done and had the boat back on her way by seven o’clock the next evening.

“The owner left me a very nice voice message the next day. They were expecting a four- to five-day delay. We got it done in 24 hours instead.”

The Twin Ports are home to 12 vessels this layup season, and Fraser “will be on every one of them,” said Mr. Walroos. At this time of year, the yards employ up to 120 workers; that will drop to about 30 during the yards’ slow season.

“Our workforce is one of our tremendous plusses,” said Mr. Walroos. “We have been blessed with longevity on our staff, and they have great talents. The people who work here love working on the vessels. They’re one of the reasons we have such a great opportunity for growth.”