Vessel conversion and refit in Greece has become a more commercially attractive option as newbuild costs rise, delivery slots lengthen, and operators look to extend asset lifespans rather than commit to new tonnage. The Eastern Mediterranean is the right geography for this work: yards in the Piraeus cluster sit within the main shipping corridor, accessible from the Aegean, the Suez Canal route, and the Black Sea without route deviation. IGMAR Shipyards in Salamina provides the full technical and infrastructure scope for commercial vessel conversion and refit, from structural modifications and machinery overhaul to class approval coordination and complete interior redesign.

What Vessel Conversion Involves

Conversion is a broader category than most operators initially assume. The defining characteristic is that the vessel's configuration, capability, or class notation changes as a result of the work.

Common conversion categories include:

• Trade conversion: adapting a vessel from one commercial function to another, for example converting a cargo vessel to a bunkering barge or a harbour tug to an anchor handler

• Regulatory conversion: modifying systems or structure to meet revised class rules, flag state requirements, or environmental standards such as ballast water treatment installation

• Life extension: comprehensive structural assessment, steel renewal, and machinery overhaul to extend the vessel's class certificate and commercial operational life

• Accommodation refit: redesigning crew quarters, passenger areas, or working spaces to meet current standards or operator preferences

• Capacity modification: altering cargo hold dimensions, tank configurations, or deck layouts to improve operational efficiency in a new trade

What a Refit Involves

A refit returns the vessel to optimal operational condition without necessarily changing its classification or commercial function. It addresses deferred maintenance, completes scheduled class work, and upgrades systems that have reached the end of their service life.

A standard refit scope at IGMAR Shipyards covers:

• Hauling, drydocking, hull inspection, and class survey

• Steel plate renewals and structural repairs

• Hydro-blasting and surface preparation at up to 3,000 bar

• Painting, antifouling, and surface treatment

• Mechanical, piping, and engine room works

• Shafting and propeller inspection and repair

• Electrical system diagnostics and overhaul

• Accommodation and interior works

• Scaffolding and shrink wrap for weather protection during extended stays

IGMAR Shipyards Facility

IGMAR Shipyards at Salamina operates on more than 62,000 square metres with dedicated zones for hauling, docking, repair, conversion, and extended stays. The yard handles commercial vessels, workboats, and support craft up to 100m in length. Infrastructure includes a fully equipped machine shop with CNC cutting machines, a plate shop and pipe shop for fabrication work, an electrical workshop, carpentry, and welding across all standard methods.

The in-house technical department, staffed by naval architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, and a safety chemist, manages the conversion design, classification society coordination, and full project supervision from specification to delivery.

Classification Society Coordination

Every conversion that changes a vessel's class notation, trading area, or structural configuration requires classification society approval. The process typically involves:

• Submission of conversion design drawings to the class surveyor for plan approval

• Survey attendance at defined stages of structural and mechanical work

• Completion of all required tests and trials before the amended class certificate is issued

• Flag state notification where the conversion affects the vessel's statutory certificates

IGMAR Shipyards coordinates directly with surveyors from all major classification societies. The in-house technical team prepares and submits documentation, manages the survey schedule, and ensures that work sequencing aligns with the class approval process. Delays in class coordination are where conversion projects lose time and budget.

Why Greece for Conversion and Refit

Vessels active in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean, or the Suez Canal corridor can call at Salamina without a route deviation that costs off-hire days. Greece also offers a concentration of specialist maritime subcontractors, equipment suppliers, and marine surveyors in the Piraeus area. The Perama area surrounding the Salamina yard is one of the most concentrated ship repair and supply clusters in the Mediterranean. By executing these complex projects within this concentrated hub, IGMAR Shipyards leverages its extensive network and deep-rooted expertise to deliver conversions on time, on budget, and without compromise.