On Monday, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will send $1.3 to St. Johns Ship Building in Putnam County.
“The grant, awarded as part of the FY21 MARAD Small Shipyard Grants category, will enable the Palatka-based company to expand its drydock capacity for commercial transportation on the St. Johns River,” Cammacks’s office noted.
“I’m so pleased that Florida’s Third Congressional District’s own St. Johns Ship Building has received this DOT grant,” said Cammack. “As those of us in Florida know, our waterways provide a tremendous opportunity for commerce, and these funds for the drydock will grow St. Johns Ship Building’s business, attract new employees to the region, and build upon North Central Florida’s reputation as a leader in coastal commerce.”
“Right now, St. Johns Ship Building is capable of building, refitting, or repairing any vessel at our facility with our 1,200-ton drydock,” said Steve Ganoe, the owner of St. Johns Ship Building. “This new grant for a larger dock will enable us to expand our facility’s capacity to take on more projects. We’re easily accessible to vessels moving along the Intracoastal Waterway from the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or Jacksonville and I’m looking forward to serving more customers with our highest quality workmanship.”
The drydock will take around 18 months to finish.
First elected to Congress in November after her longtime boss then U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., retired, Cammack represents parts of North Florida ranging from Clay County outside of Jacksonville to Gainesville and the northern part of Marion County.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com
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