Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, a family-owned and operated shipyard since 1955, is located on 7 acres on the deepwater Taunton River in Somerset, Massachusetts. Our facilities, protected by a video security system, include:
- 60,000 sq. ft. of heated, indoor fabrication capabilities, which include plasma cutting and three press breaks and shears
- 10,000 sq. ft. of secure storage buildings
- 4,200 sq. ft. office building
- 600-ton railway
- 260-foot high-capacity, deep-draft pier
- Up to 100 employees
The shipyard’s long-standing commitment to ongoing maintenance has led to numerous capital projects that make its operations more efficient and safer for employees. These include, for example, replacing old, heavy bi-fold doors on one of its shops. What took two cranes and as many as six employees to open and close the doors now takes minutes by one person. Additionally, a grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) helped purchase a new custom 35-ton self-propelled Hostar trailer, intended to move vessels less than 60 feet more safely and efficiently. A grant from the State of Massachusetts was used to build a sheltered plate storage yard to efficiently store metal plating on racks under cover.