Business as usual for German yard
Pandemic concerns do not appear to have troubled Germany’s Schiffswerft Diedrich – busy as usual at this time of year with ferry and workboat repair and maintenance, reports Tom Todd.
The Ems shipyard reported a string of regular local customers booking in boats prior to the 2021 season. Many are involved in ferry traffic with North German Frisian islands while others are workboats operating with local shipping, waterway,offshore or port authorities.
The servicing of offshore CTVs is an important part of Diedrich business and the 22m offshore catamaran Wind Force III has been among recent callers. One of three CTVs with Frisia Offshore, it underwent above and below-water hull conservation and “diverse” class repairs.
Wind Force III and the 19.4m Wind Force II were built by Baltic Work Boats (BWB). It looked like the latest Diedrich work on Wind Force III, in service since 2016, was the first five year class renewal for the tender, which is powered by twin CAT C32 engines providing 23 knots.
Frisia Offshore’s first CTV cat, the 22m Wind Force I, was actually built by Diedrich itself in 2013 and billed as the first German-flag offshore wind catamaran. It was also Diedrich’s first all-aluminium vessel and the yard said when it was built that it felt it would be the first of many similar newbuildings.
Recent ferry work at the Ems facility has included bow thruster, propeller, shaft and rudder inspection as well as conservation on the veteran 24.29m ferry Ditzum. Another oldtimer, the 26.48m island ferry Jens Albrecht III also came for repair and maintenance as well as similar conservation and machinery and class inspection. The 45.9m ferry Langeoog IV called for much the same treatment.
Elsewhere four ferries from main customer Norden Frisia have already visited Diedrich this year.
The 49.50m Frisia VI, carrying 1090 passengers, spent 12 days for bow thruster, double rudder and propeller and shaft inspection. The 57.13m Frisia IX underwent a propeller swap and DNV class renewal inspection. Owners also used the opportunity for rudder and bottom checks. The 59.88m Frisia II came in for below water hull conservation, repairs and maintenence. That 1350 passenger ferry also underwent propeller, bow thruster and rudder inspection. Finally the 59.80m Frisia I came for similar routine annual checks.
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