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Knight & Carver Maritime Launches Dry-Dock ‘Diligence’

Thursday, 21 October 2010
Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

The 4,000-ton dry-dock Diligence has a new home along the Port of San Diego waterfront – at Knight & Carver Maritime in National City. More than 150 people, including Board of Port Commission Chairman Robert 'Dukie' Valderrama and National City Mayor Ron Morrison, were on hand as the marine firm officially dedicated the structure on Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

The dry-dock is able to accommodate vessels and megayachts measuring up to 400-feet in length and 100-feet in width.

"This is a remarkable milestone in the long and productive history of our company," said Michael O'Leary, President/Chief Executive Officer of Knight & Carver . "We are now able to attract the world's largest megayachts to our facility as well as large commercial and military vessels. San Diego now ranks among the world's best-equipped megayacht repairs centers."

Knight & Carver said it will operate the dry dock under an exclusive, long-term lease arrangement with Diligence & Company LLC, as well as investment partner Fraser's Services, a San Diego-based boat repair firm.

The Diligence is scheduled to handle its first vessel at Knight & Carver during the first week of November. The yacht center estimates it will hire more than 100 additional workers once the dry-dock is under full operation.

Diligence was formerly housed at BAE Systems San Diego. The dry-dock was used in September 2009, for the eight-week maintenance work on the Maritime Museum of San Diego's iconic "Star of India." (Watch the video.)

Knight & Carver is a tenant and partner of the Port of San Diego.