Founded in 1921, the shipyard ASTILLEROS BALENCIAGA devoted its first few years of existence mainly to the construction of wooden fishing boats. During the past few years timber has been replaced by steel and the shipyard’s activities are now more diverse, and it constructs different types of ships: medium-sized tankers, tugs, tuna and all types of fishing boats. Since 1965 it has delivered more than 300 units.
The shipyards has an excellent access as the port of Zumaia is located in a strategic position, just 40/50 minutes from the French border. The motorway to the airports of Bilbao, San Sebastián, Biarritz, etc., (with daily flights to London, Paris, Madrid) permits good connections.
The Ministry of Industry and Energy has ratified that the port meets all the EC regulations on naval production. Its ships are constructed based on the strict requirements of the most demanding classification associations such as Bureau Veritas, Norske V., Germanischer, Lloyd, Lloyd´s Register or the American Bureau of Shipping, and on the specifications of the different shipowners.
Important investments have been made in the shipyard, which now has:
Udalarrantz - Red de municipios pesqueros del País Vasco