Gibraltar’s vessel repair expert, Gibdock, has turned around a fast 11-day renewal project on a 142m Seatruck Ferries ro-ro vessel reasserting its market position in the short sea vessel repair market.
The Clipper Point repair brought Gibdock Ship Manager Juan Pinero Perez and Seatruck Senior Superintendent Mark Baynham back to work together again. They were the team that worked successfully on the Clipper Arrow repair project entrusted to Gibdock by Seatruck back in 2014.
“We had a good experience at Gibdock with Clipper Arrow and the timing of the Clipper Point transfer made a return to the yard very convenient,” said Mr Baynham. “Having completed this project on time and to the high standards Seatruck set, and we will certainly consider going back to Gibdock in the future.”
Mr Pinero Perez added: “Since Clipper Arrow was in the yard, Gibdock has also moved over to its new AX quotation and project management software, making it much easier for the ship manager to concentrate on the project, rather than chasing loose ends.”
The scope of the project included completion of her statutory classification surveys involving inspections of the hull, deck machinery and rudders, steering gear overhauls and hull cleaning plus the application of Hempel antifouling coatings.
It also involved the removal, smoothing and polishing of Clipper Point’s twin Wärtsilä 4CF13AH controllable pitch propeller blades in a team effort with Portuguese contractor Repropel Propulsion Services, as well as overhauling the ship’s Wärtsilä CT200 bow thrusters.
Designed by Knud E. Hansen A/S, Clipper Point is one of four ‘P Series’ ro-ro freight ferries built for the Clipper Group subsidiary by Spanish shipyard Astilleros de Huelva.
By Anne-Marie Causer
