UK Shipyard Wins Long-term Dredger Drydock Contract
A&P Tees, part of A&P North East, has won an exclusive contract from UK dredge contractor CEMEX UK Marine, part of the CEMEX UK Group, for the drydocking of the company’s three trailing suction hopper dredgers over a five-year period. Due to the severity of the work undertaken by dredgers, it is expected that each vessel will be drydocked on a regular basis. The first vessel, the 5,022 m3 Sand Falcon already visited the shipyard during March/April this year, and the 2,700 m3 Sand Heron and the 4,000 m3 Sand Fulmar are due in the yard during July and August respectively.
Shipyards in NE England Buzzing with Activity
The month of January 2013 was again a very busy month for A&P Shipyards in the northeast of England. Longstone (Andrew Weir Shipping) - undocked early January after an intensive 12 day programme overhauling the stern ramp, vent fans and sea valves. The ship sailed away on time on 4th January. Pride of York (P&O) - docked on 22nd January where she underwent her annual refit. She sailed on the 10th February. The Tyne saw a couple of demobilisation projects for Technip Offshore Wind Limited in January on UR101 and AMT Discoverer. Both projects involved removal of cable carousels and associated equipment. They both successfully completed on time. The same owners have now just stemmed another mobilisation on the Normand Progress.
Subsea Construction: Cable Reel System Supplied by Houlder
UK-based equipment provider Houlder deliver a 'Fast Track' cable reel system to Acteon company, Aquatic for S.America subsea work. The Reel Skidding Drive System (RSDS), designed, engineered and constructed by Houlder to the client specification, consists of a skid frame, skid trolley and push beam. Weighing 75t itself, the RSDS receives a loaded cassette reel of flexible product, engages its drive system and then transports the unit 10 metres along the vessel deck from the loading to the product deployment position. It is designed to operate at sea in all but storm conditions.
A&P Tees Goes from Strength to Strength
A&P Group’s Teesside facility, located near Middlesborough, has made a successful start since re-opening for business earlier this year, success in both use of the shipyard and offering users of the River Tees, and surrounding areas, an effective and efficient ‘Shipcare’ service. The first vessel drydocked at the shipyard was the 3,086 dwt dredger Heortnesse, which is owned by Tees & Hartlepool Port Authority. This vessel underwent thruster repairs. The largest contract since then has been a two week drydocking of Farstad Shipping’s 4,680 dwt offshore supply vessel Far Service, which was in for a two week drydocking operation during late July/early August. Other drydocking contracts have included dredgers and tugs operating in the Tees region.
