Derecktor Ft. Pierce Breaks Ground, Officially Begins Construction

Plans to convert the century-old Port of Fort Pierce into a repair and refit facility for the global fleet of megayachts and large sailing yachts are moving full speed ahead.

After a lengthy permitting and review process, Derecktor Shipyards has been granted approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Fort Pierce to begin construction of its newest shipyard – Derecktor Ft. Pierce.

Derecktor officials broke ground at the Port on Friday, November 13 during a small ceremony where federal, state and local dignitaries brandishing golden shovels, hard hats and face masks gathered to commemorate the historic occasion.

“This will be one of those places that people will be looking at worldwide to get their repairs, their work, their upgrade done, that’s an incredible thing to say about what this is going to do for this community and we couldn’t be more proud to do it,” said U.S. Representative Brian Mast.

Derecktor has contracted with Shoreline Foundation, Inc. to develop a new haul-out basin at the Port by excavating a 220-foot long by 50-foot-wide portion of the existing concrete wharf and creating a slipway where the 1,500-ton mobile boat hoist will lift yachts up to 250 feet in length out of the water for service.

Construction also includes the installation of a utility loop spanning the perimeter of the facility and supplying power, water and fiberoptics; converting the aging Indian River Terminal into a state-of-the-art workshop; piping in a new high-hazard level two fire suppression system; repairing existing bulkheads; and a host of other necessary infrastructure improvements.