Key yards are seeing increased workloads in 2023
The two dominant players in the UK shiprepair sector, A&P and Cammell Laird, have both enjoyed a busy 2023 so far handling a significant number of ship repair projects across their facilities in the North East, North West and South West of England.
In the North East, A&P Tyne has recently completed the drydockings of TechnipFMC’s Deep Orient and Stolt Tankers’ Stolt Achievement. A flexible lay and construction vessel, Deep Orient, visited the facility for a scheduled full class survey and complex programme of works including the replacement of five of the vessel’s thrusters, the installation of mezzanine decks in the cargo holds and blasting of the underwater areas including a full coating system on the topsides. While in drydock, A&P also upgraded the vessel’s ROV control and powering, replaced the vessel’s helideck sprinkler system and carried out steel work repairs, as well as cleaning and painting the vessel’s tanks.
Stolt Achievement arrived into drydock for an 18-day scheduled intermediate docking. The ship’s programme of works included, but was not limited to, full hull painting, bow thruster overhaul, tank cleaning, steel repairs and biofuel conversion.
Earlier this year A&P Tees’ facility completed works on the suction dredger Arco Avon, which underwent an extensive steel plate replacement in its hopper cargo hold, while pusher tug Tees Guardian entered drydock for 30 days to remove both port and starboard rudders and propellors, which were replaced with new inputs.
In the South West, A&P Falmouth welcomed a Torpoint Ferry vessel for refit under renewed partnership agreement between the two companies. Plym II arrived at A&P’s facility for a refit period involving an extensive programme of works that included a survey of the vessel’s underwater hull, repainting the vessel above and below the waterline, and the upgrade of the chainwheel drive system equipment, including chainwheel drive couplings, bearings, and propulsion drive inverter components.
In the first half of 2023 A&P Falmouth also completed the refit of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette, the largest passenger vessel to visit the facility in over 60 years. The A&P team delivered a programme of works that included a large underwater paint scheme, as well as maintenance to the ship’s azipods and bow thrusters.
The Falmouth facility has further delivered repair works to two Wightlink ferries, Victoria of Wight and Wight Sun. For Victoria of Wight, a hybrid vessel using electric power alongside a regular diesel engine, A&P delivered a Voith unit overhaul, hull preparation and painting, deck machinery and equipment overhauls.
Ferry work has been a mainstay at Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead shipyard, which has welcomed five Stena vessels to the facility for shiprepair works, including Stena Estrid, Stena Scotia and Stena Superfast VI, VII and VIII. P&O Ferries’ Norbank also visited facility for a programme of works including propeller, rudder and stabiliser inspections, cleaning preparation and painting, steelwork repairs and belting renewals.
During the first half of the year Cammell Laird also undertook the conversion of RFA Proteus, formally known as Topaz Tangaroa. The offshore support vessel was purchased by the UK Ministry of Defence for conversion to a multi-role ocean surveillance (MROS) vessel. Cammell Laird was tasked with preparing the vessel for its new role, with works to the crane and deck machinery as well as a full paint scheme and name change.
A&P and Cammell Laird have common shareholders, and the same CEO in David McGinley, but operate as separate businesses. Between them the two brands operate 11 drydocks across the country, providing ship repair, fabrication and conversion services, as well as newbuilding.
