GENERAL MANAGER BUILDS TEAM

DATE: September 2005    

Ralph Heil, General Manager, has been actively building a team committed to expanding capabilities and services of the yard to a high standard of excellence since his appointment late last spring.   A graduate of Duke University, Ralph has over 30 years of experience in the marine industry and brings to TMI his expertise in vessel operation, new construction and refit and repair, both here in the states and in Europe.  He was General Manager of an FAA certified repair station specializing in aircraft and mega-yacht interiors, building his success on attention to detail and progressive technology.

Page Hanson also joined TMI this summer as Sales Manager and brings 17 years of yachting experience to the team.  Her work on both sail and power vessels chartering around the world give her a broad understanding of the repair and refit needs of well-maintained yachts.  As a liaison for the yard, Page’s attention to detail and follow-up provide customers with quality service that creates customer loyalty.  “We have a long-term view of customer satisfaction, building on and valuing, above all, our relationship”.

With the completion of the repairs to the south basin seawall and the installation of new floating docks, TMI continues its systematic investment in improving its infrastructure and continues to add to its crew of skilled tradesmen. This summer, development of a cabinet shop with sophisticated furniture making capabilities was begun under the direction of cabinetmaker Jens Falk.  This expansion complements our carpentry shop and is a vital component of our comprehensive refit capabilities.

A full service yard conveniently located on the Wilmington River twelve miles from the sea buoy just outside the historic city of Savannah, TMI is an easy approach from sea with no overhead height restrictions.  Mean river depth at low water is 12 feet (3.7m) and the basin in the yard is dredged to 14 feet (4.3m).

Serving vessels up to 200 feet, TMI has hauling capabilities of 160 tons on its refurbished Travelift and 1,150 tons by it’s rebuilt Syncrolift.  A versatile rail and car system on a grid pattern allows TMI to easily move hauled vessels between outside service positions and enclosed buildings to accommodate a variety of work.

Our recently dredged 7.5 acre basin allows for easy maneuvering when entering and exiting the river, when hauling by Travelift or Syncrolift, and gives ample room to tie-up alongside the more than 2,000 feet of floating docks.