A&P Group's newly reopened dry dock facility, A&P Birkenhead, has recently completed the dry docking and repairs of Mersey Ferries' 464grt passenger ferry Woodchurch. The Woodchurch is the first of three vessels booked into the yard by Mersey Ferries Ltd, the Passenger Transport Authority and Executive for Merseyside. The
three ship contract was won in open competition against other UK
ship repairers.
The two other ferries, the 303grt Royal Daffodil and her sistership Royal Iris will be dry docked during January and March 2003 respectively. The work content for all three vessels includes general maintenance, minor steel repairs and cleaning and painting the ships hull.
Martyn Drye, General Manager of A&P Birkenhead said "We are delighted to have won this important contract. To have won it against strong competition is a major achievement for our new business and a real boost for our workforce".
Alan Bray of Mersey Travel commented that "The dry docking of the Woodchurch went extremely well and we are looking forward to completion of the remaining vessels at A&P Birkenhead".
Since reopening under the A&P banner in August 2002, A&P Birkenhead has been successful in winning several dry docking contracts from various customers including P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea), Westminster Dredging and Sea Containers. Speaking about the order for the three Mersey vessels Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead said: "We welcomed the decision from the Directors of Mersey Travel. The placing of a ferry order in the yard signalled its revival. I hope this move by Mersey Travel will give the same signal for a wider revival of the
A&P Birkenhead yard".