Feature 6 | UK


pool, a four-point mooring system and installed an ‘A’ frame on the transom for the deployment of seabed survey equipment. Other work included the refurbishment of accommodation and installation of a drill tower. Despite the difficulties faced as a result of


the economic downturn, A&P Group has continued with a programme of investment in its yards, spending £9.4 million in three years up to December 2010. “Tis investment has included opening a seventh dry dock, which reinforces our ability to carry out multi-ship contracts for our customers, and the opening of West Quay at our Hebburn yard, which enables us to load and off load directly from land to


water,” said Mr Bell. “Te investment in new facilities both improves the service we can offer to existing customers and allows us to tender within new areas of business, placing us ahead of the game.” Other notable yard upgrades have


included the acquisition of a new 50tonne crane for dock number two at Falmouth, which will also service its fabrication unit, and a new thruster pit in dock number 3 at the yard which enables A&P to service more offshore vessels with pod propulsion units. New painting equipment, HP machines and pipe work production equipment has also been acquired for Falmouth, while at the Tees yard all workshops have recently been refurbished. Investment in the yards


will continue, the company says, and will include the refurbishment of the Bede Quay in Hebburn and a further extension to the new West Quay. Having started the year with the


announcement of some significant new contracts, A&P is not surprisingly optimistic about the future outlook. However, Mr Bell said: “We cannot afford to be complacent and we know that the continuing challenges of cuts and slow return from recession will continue to have a bearing on the market and we are prepared for a tough year ahead. We see our investment in people and the business as a way forward in maintaining our position.” SCRT


Cammell Laird targets emerging markets


Cammell Laird’s North East England shiprepair operation is benefiting from the continued support of existing customers. Te company plans, however, to enter some emerging markets over the coming year.


T


he volume of shiprepair and conversion projects handled by Cammell Laird in 2010 remained fairly


steady, despite obvious economic difficulties, largely due to the strong relationship the yard has with key customers, especially in the ferry and naval sectors. During 2010, the company dealt with well over 120 ships at its Birkenhead yard, with 64 vessels of various types entering drydock, up from 61 the year before. Passenger and freight ferries made up the


biggest sector, with 28 vessels docked, up from 18 in 2009. Te yard also handled significant numbers of naval auxiliary, offshore and special purpose ships, tankers and tugs. One of the most notable visitors to


Cammell Laird in the last quarter of 2010 was the Clipper Racer for Seatruck Ferries, which docked for repairs and a stern ramp conversion in preparation for a new route. Tis is the fourth vessel in this freight ro-ro class for which the yard has carried out stern ramp conversion work. Other ferries seen on Birkenhead in the latter part of 2010 included DFDS Seaways’ Liverpool Viking, P&O’s European Endeavour and Seatruck Ferries’ Clipper Racer. Te yard also drydocked and repaired the tanker Asperity for James Fisher, the tug Svitzer


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Maltby for Svitzer Marine and Irish Sea Pioneer, a jack up mobile offshore unit for Halliburton. Cammell Laird’s managing director,


Linton Roberts, believes the offshore market will generate more business for the company over the near future, particularly in the renewable energy sector. “We expect to see vessels in support of this sector become more prominent in the work we undertake over the coming months,” he said. During the last quarter of 2010 Cammell


Laird also carried out work on a number of vessels for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), completing a refit of RFA’s Fort Rosalie, a major ship life extension programme on Gold Rover, and extensive afloat works to Wave Knight. As part of the life support contract agreed with RFA, Cammell Laird teams also supported maintenance periods on vessels at a number of different locations worldwide, including Dubai and South Africa. Te early part of 2011 has started briskly,


Cammell Laird reports, with three large ro-pax vessels, Ulysses, Isle of Inishmoor and Oscar Wilde and one fast ferry, Jonathan Swiſt, being docked by Irish Ferries. Other ro-ro ship projects handled to date include the Norcape, Norbank and Norbay for


P&O Ferries; Isle of Lewis and Hebrides for Caledonian MacBrayne; Clipper Arrow for Seatruck Ferries and the fast ferries Manannan and Snaefell for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Te yard has also docked Spirit of Fairbridge, a sail training vessel for Bibby Line’s charity Fairbridge, the harbour tug Svitzer Stanlow and Royal Daffodil, a commuter passenger ferry for Mersey Ferries. Looking ahead, the company views


prospects for 2011 as being generally good, despite very tough market conditions. Mr Roberts added: “Cammell Laird will continue to strengthen its core business in international ship repair and conversion, but we are also diversifying into other markets which our core skills can support. We have recently signed a partnership agreement with nuclear specialist Nuvia Ltd to help secure work in this emerging sector and are also at the forefront of efforts to make the Port of Liverpool a hub for the support of the UK west coast offshore wind farm industry.” In further evidence of diversification,


Cammell Laird is currently undertaking a major construction project for the Aircraſt Carrier Alliance in support of the build of the Queen Elizabeth. SCRT


Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 1st Quarter 2011


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