Fraser Shipyards garners $2.9M state grant for revitalization

Fraser Shipyards Inc. hopes its yards can make another 123 years as the company approaches fulfillment of a roughly $10 million revitalization project.
On Monday, Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program granted the Superior shipyards the final $2.9 million for the project, a move applauded by lawmakers and Tom Curelli, Fraser’s director of operations.
“It’s outstanding news,” he said. “What it does is complete the dock into one continuous long dock.”  
The project has been a long time in the making. As lakers started to grow in size, they put a squeeze on the shipyards, forcing them to reconfigure vessels’ approaches and make do for years. Now, with the continuous sea wall running the length of the property, as many as three vessels will comfortably dock, Curelli said. Every vessel will be capable of being dry docked, except the massive 1,000-footers.
“Fraser plays a critical role in the shipping industry, and the entire region’s economy and federal and state funds were absolutely essential to allow this modernization project to go forward,” said state Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar. “It’s exactly the kind of investment our government should be making to help build the economy.”
Jauch’s office reported that, over the course of 30 years, the Harbor Assistance Program has invested $28 million through 10 projects in the Twin Ports.
Curelli said Fraser is not done yet.
“I won’t say this is the final phase,” Curelli said. “We’ll take a short pause and then continue forward.”
The current project also features significant upgrades to safety and electrical equipment.