Posted on May 17, 2023
A&P Group has reported a strong start to 2023 with a range of commercial and defence ship repair projects being completed across the Group’s facilities in the North East and South West of England.
A&P Group is a global ship repair, conversion and marine specialist operating seven dry docks across three strategic locations in the UK.
A&P Falmouth has successfully completed the multi-million pound refit of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines MV Bolette, the largest passenger vessel to visit the facility in over 60 years. The A&P team delivered an intense programme of works in eleven days including a large underwater paint scheme, as well as maintenance to the ship’s Azipods and bow thrusters.
The facility has also delivered repair works to two Wightlink Ferries’ – Victoria of Wight and Wight Sun. Victoria of Wight is a hybrid vessel using electric power alongside a regular diesel engine. A&P delivered a Voith unit overhaul, hull preparation and painting, deck machinery and equipment overhauls. Wight Sun was the sixth Wightlink vessel to dock this financial year.
Tug SD Eileen also visited the facility for propulsion, hull and machinery repairs. The vessel, managed by Serco, is the fifth Serco vessel to dock at A&P Falmouth this financial year. A&P Falmouth is also set welcome Tarmac’s City of Cardiff and Red Funnel’s Red Osprey and Red Falcon in the next month.
A&P Defence has completed a large programme of works on behalf of the Ministry of Defence this year. RFA Lyme Bay departed A&P Falmouth’s facility in February following the completion of her eight month refit period. This formed part of the mid-life update for the vessel including a ten week dry dock period.
The facility also welcomed river-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Tyne and has since seen the return of RFA Argus for a significant assisted maintenance period (AMP) and welcomed RFA Mount’s Bay for her contractor support period (CSP) and docking.
In the North East, A&P Tees’ facility has completed works on suction dredger Arco Avon, undergoing an extensive steel plate replacement in the vessel’s Hopper Cargo hold, while pusher tug Tees Guardian entered dry dock for 30 days to remove both port and starboard rudders and propellors and replaced with new.
At A&P Tyne, the team has recently completed a large programme of works on TechnipFMC’s Deep Orient, a subsea pipe laying vessel. Prior to this, Boskalis’ diving support vessel Boka Da Vinci, also visited the facility for works including a full blast and paint scheme, the removal of redundant Fifi equipment, steel works, overhaul of the vessel’s valves and polishing of the blades.
David McGinley, Chief Executive Officer of A&P Group, said: “It is fantastic to see all of our facilities so busy as the financial year draws to a close.
“Our facilities in the North East and South West of England have become centres of excellence for ship repair and conversion projects, with a strong network of returning customers.
“We have completed some of the largest ship repair projects in the UK this year – which has taken a huge effort from all involved. I am extremely proud of our workforce and supply chain which have worked around the clock to deliver on time and to budget.”
