Repair: Cammell Laird Diversity An Asset
Cammell Laird has quickly gained a foothold among the world's shiprepair as providing technologically complex solutions as well as cost effective and quality routine maintenance.
Its capabilities to handle a diversity of jobs, large and small, is evident by the recent influx of work.
Cammell Laird Merseyside has drydocked its semi-submersible offshore structure, Iolair — a first for the U.K.- based shipyard. Operated by R&B Falcon, the vessel, which is used for emergency response, was drydocked at the Cammell Laird yard for general repair before returning to its operations out of the North Sea.
The 37,584-grt cruise ship, Song of America was recently at the yard's number five drydock for an eight week track refit. Acquired by Airtours' Sun Cruises, the vessel will be renamed Sunbird, as well as undergo a livery change before commencing its new cruise schedule comprised of weekly voyages to Palma, Majorca.
Four P&O Ferries, St. Ola, St. Sunniva, St. Clair and St. Rognvald underwent their annual drydocking and refit the end of this past year at Cammell Laird Teeside. Procedures included were: general maintenance, repairs, and safety, and LSA and fire fighting equipment work for each vessel's renewal of passenger certificates before sailing to their usual venues around the Scottish Islands.
The privilege of having the largest drydock on the U.K.'s East coast allowed Cammell Laird to dock the 137 ft. (42 m) beam of North Sea shuttle tanker Berge Hugin. Owned by Bergesen, d.y. ASA, the vessel was converted to an FPSO and is now operated by the joint venture company Advanced Production Systems.
MOD Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, Fort George was upgraded during its drydocking and refit with Phalanx, CIWS (close in weapons systems) and UAG radar systems. The 28,821-grt vessel was the first of its kind to receive this type of work outside at a non-naval dockyard.
Atlantic Horizon, Labrador Horizon and Austral Horizon were converted to seismic vessels for Horizon Exploration. Involving large scale steelwork fabrication, the projects were carried out at Cammell Laird's Merseyside and Tyneside yards. Complete fit-outs, including machinery, pipework and electrical services were also incorporated, as was instalation of each vessel's specialist seismic survey equipment. Refurbishment also included newly designed layouts and renewal of cabin and service spaces to each ship's crew accommodations. Cammell Laird's ongoing projects include the upgrade and removal of the existing engine room and surrounding hull structure on the Icelandic purse/trawler Borkur. The fitting of a new pre-fabricated 200-ton engine room section, incorporating new machinery and systems is also slated for completion.
Other efforts include the removal of the existing diesel engine driven bowthruster for replacement with a larger, electric driven unit.
Currently being converted from a salvage vessel to a deepwater dynamically positioned drillship, Peregrine VII is drydocked at Cammell Laird's Meyerside yard. The ship now boasts over 7,000 tons of steelwork with a 98 ft. (30 m) midship section lengthening its pontoons. Installation and commissioning of the drilling and ship systems, incorporating machinery, pipework and electrical services was also performed. Conversions to an ROV vessel were also completed on DSND Oceantech operated Atlantic Challenger —in addition to general repairs and new equipment installation—The 38,406-grt shuttle tanker Petrotoll was drydocked at the Merseyside yard for emergency repairs.
