UK Shipyard Spotlights Ferry 'Bespoke Eco-Packages'

Cammell Laird says it has developed one of the most advanced ‘bespoke environmental’ packages for ferries in the shipyard industry, following its strongest year of trading in the sector.

Cammell Laird technical manager Paul Ashcroft  said ‘a massive challenge and focus’ for the sector moving forward is to find cost effective solutions to the new environmental standards ferry companies have to meet.

“There has never been greater pressure on ferry companies to become greener than now,” he said. “As a result we have developed a highly advanced and specialised new environmental package addressing some of the hardest challenges. This covers carbon emissions, airborne pollution and the spread of aquatic nuisance species, in particular MARPOL Annex VI and the Ballast Water Management Convention, challenges that require considerable pre-planning.”

Mr Ashcroft said Cammell Laird’s green package has been developed to be bespoke and address the challenges faced by each individual ferry.

He continued: "“There is not one simple solution to suit all vessels,” he said. “Much depends on the type of ship, the geographical trading area, its age and operating profile. This is made harder by stretched ship management resources and the multitude of new, often competing, technologies. However, because we work on such a variety of vessels Cammell Laird is right at the forefront of these challenges."

Cammell Laird, one of the best-known names in maritime history, says it has docked 24 ferries between 2013 and the beginning of 2014 and, in addition, has carried out a further 24 afloat repairs for ferry operators.  During 2013 Cammell Laird repaired, built and converted almost 250,000 gross tons of ferry and Ro-Ro ships for a wide range of owners. Already in 2014 it has docked and repaired ferries of 150,000 gross tons.  Ferries worked on include both conventional and high speed vessels in steel and aluminium.

Mr Ashcroft added that vessels docked, meanwhile, have ranged from the 46m, 611 GT “Royal Iris of the Mersey” to the 209m, 50938 GT “Ulysses” – fully utilising the four docks available at Cammell Laird suitable for all vessel types up to 40m beam.

“We also drydocked three of the NorthLink Ferries Fleet over the winter for overhaul and survey work,” he said. “This included the introduction of new livery to the vessels – “Magnus the Viking” which now adorns the side of the vessels." [Pictured here].