Project marks second time UK firm has used Syncrolift at France's Port of Cherbourg to dry dock a fast ferry
By
Rebecca Gibson |
UK-based ship repair and marine engineering services provider SMS has completed an extensive refit of Brittany Ferries’ high-speed ferry Normandie Express at the Port of Cherbourg in France.
Normadie Express was dry docked using the Port Normands Associe’s 90-metre-long, 32-metre-wide Syncrolift, which was manufactured by Rolls-Royce and can lift vessels weighing up to 3,000 tonnes.
During the three-week refurbishment, the SMS team completed structural aluminium repairs (including hull inserts), mended the under-hull planking and jet room, overhauled the sea valves, painted waterjets, and replaced insulations, anodes, main engine coolers and lube oil pumps. The team also performed maintenance work on the hydraulic ride control system and repaired and replaced insulation, fire door frames and fire safety equipment.
“This was a major programme of works completed by SMS on time and on budget,” said John Webb, technical manager of SMS in Dover. “I’d like to thank Brittany Ferries for its custom and technical support during the docking period. The company has been a real pleasure to work with and we’re extremely grateful.”
SMS has an agreement that enables it to use the Syncrolift facility at the Port of Cherbourg on a ‘turn up and go’ basis. This is the time it has used it to refit a fast ferry in 2018 – the first dry dock project was carried out on Condor Ferries’ Condor Rapide in June.
“Having docked Condor Rapide during the first half of the year, we clearly demonstrated to both competitors and customers alike that not only does SMS have the expertise to complete engineering works in this unique sector, but also the perfect suitability of the footprint in Cherbourg for fast ferry refit and repair works,” said Webb.