US builder is moving its operations to Tennessee
Thirty-four years of luxury yacht building for Christensen Shipyards has come to an end in Vancouver, Washington, as the last vessel completed at the facility was launched this week. Christensen is relocating its operations to a larger facility in Tellico Lake, Tennessee.
Ironically, Jackpot, at 165ft in length and 740,000 pounds, is the largest vessel to be built by Christensen which is abandoning Vancouver for Tennessee in order to build larger craft.
According to reporting in The Columbian, the remaining unfinished yacht hull in the Vancouver assembly bay has been sold to an undisclosed buyer who will complete the construction process. The hull will be launched next week, according to Christensen staff, then either barged or towed by tugboat to its new home.
Vigor Industrial has purchased the Christensen yard and plans to manufacture a new type of landing craft for the US Army at the 180,000sq ft facility.
Christensen announced in 2006 the addition of the Tellico Lake yard to facilitate builds of 180ft and longer, and adapt more quickly to changing trends in the industry.”
Many of the 70 employees in Vancouver will be relocating, according to the company.
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