Drydock planning is always difficult, and shipyards have to show a great deal of flexibility to their customer’s requirements when it comes to meeting essential redelivery schedules. This is particularly relevant in River Dee Shiprepairers, Aberdeen, part of the
A&P Group, where only one graving dock (112.80 m x 21.33 m) is in operation.
The yard is currently carrying out an eight day general repair to Gulf Offshore’s OSV (Offshore Supply Vessel) Highland Warrior, work including removal and inspection of the vessel’s two tailshafts; HP washing of the hull and painting with International’s Interspeed. When the repair to the Highland Warrior is complete, another OSV is due to enter the drydock – North Star Shipping’s Grampian Highlander, work also to include tailshaft removal and repair.
The flexibility of the shipyard is then brought into play as Caledonia Shipping’s OSV Caledonia Master is due in for a 13/14 day drydocking, including starboard tailshaft removal and general repairs. So, with the owner’s permission, the tailshaft and propeller onboard the Grampian Highlander will be removed and the shaft tunnel blanked off in drydock and the ship refloated and moored alongside, which will allow for the Caledonia Master to be drydocked.
The Grampian Highlander’s tailshaft is then due to be sent to RK Atkinson (specialist tailshaft repairers), located in North Humberside, and, by the time it is returned to the shipyard, the repairs to the Caledonia Master will be complete.