Ferry construction hits new milestone
FERGUSON Marine (Port Glasgow) has completed another significant milestone in the dual fuel ferry project with the installation of the bulbous bow on Hull 802.
The bulbous bow is positioned at the front end of the ship and sits below the waterline. It is a highly functional piece of precision engineering, designed to facilitate less drag, consistent speed, and efficient fuel consumption. The bulbous bow has been designed and constructed specifically for Hull 802 based on its operational requirements.
In a meticulously planned engineering operation inside the Port Glasgow shipyard, the 35-tonne bulbous bow was lifted into place by a mobile crane and will be welded to the bow structure. The operation involved a six-strong team of engineers, welders and shipwrights, working over three days, starting in the early hours of Monday morning, to ensure all preparation and alignment was ready to accept the bow unit.
It is a further visible sign of progress on the two vessels.
In recent weeks, three stern units have been lifted into place on Hull 802. When finished, these units will house the steering gear and other equipment and will support the car deck and stern ramp.
Extensive work has also been completed inside the hull of the vessel, including linking and welding units and pipe work installation, as well as outfitting of major foundations for the engine room and generator room. The next key phase of work on Hull 802 involves building and installing the remaining parts of the bow section, which should be completed by the end of the year.
Earlier this year, structural work on MV Glen Sannox was completed following the installation of a reworked funnel and newly constructed mast, as well as completion of the structure around the stern and inside the hull.
Tim Hair, Turnaround Director at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow), said:
“This is another significant step forward in the recovery of the shipyard, with visible progress in recent months on both vessels. The past year has been extremely challenging, working under the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we have gained momentum following the disruption and we are reaching important milestones.
“A lot of work is taking place at the shipyard and our teams have been working extremely hard. Significantly more work is being done on Hull 802 while it remains on the slipway, compared to MV Glen Sannox. This means that when it launches, it will weigh 1,300 tonnes more than MV Glen Sannox did at the point of launch, providing an indication of the volume of additional work onboard the second vessel.
“There remains a lot of work to do on both vessels, but construction is progressing well, and we are optimistic as we forge ahead. We have developed increased capability over the past 18 months with a highly experienced leadership team and a skilled and talented workforce, who are committed to completing the vessels and building a future for the shipyard.
“We continue to do everything possible to deliver the dual fuel ferry programme, improve productivity, secure new contracts for vessels, and protect local jobs.”
