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Ulysses Undergoes Overhaul for the First time At UK East Coast Dry-Dock, A&P Tyne

19th January 2024
Ulysses, Irish Ferries cruiseferry of the Dublin-Holyhead route, is having an annual overhaul at A&P Tyne, which is the largest commercial dry-dock on the England’s east coast. While away from Irish Sea duties, W.B. Yeats is operating the roster of the cruiseferry. Also above at the North Sea marine engineering facility is Prysmian's Cable Enterprise alongside when berthed on the Tyne.
Ulysses, Irish Ferries cruiseferry of the Dublin-Holyhead route, is having an annual overhaul at A&P Tyne, which is the largest commercial dry-dock on the England’s east coast. While away from Irish Sea duties, W.B. Yeats is operating the roster of the cruiseferry. Also above at the North Sea marine engineering facility is Prysmian's Cable Enterprise alongside when berthed on the Tyne. Credit: A&P Group Limited/LinkedIn

Irish Ferries main vessel on the Dublin-Holyhead route, Ulysses is receiving an annual overhaul but for the first time at A&P Tyne on the North Sea, which has the largest dry-dock on the east coast of England, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 2001 Aker Finnyards built cruise-ferry of 50,398 gross tonnes is undergoing the dry-docking at one of the three facilities that form the A&P Group, the others been located at Tees and Falmouth.

When combined the facilities have seven dry-docks in the Group which is part of the wider APCL Group of shipbuilders and shiprepairers, among them Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on the west coast (as reported yesterday). In recent year's collaboration has seen A&P Tyne fabricate modular blocks for the UK's polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough which was launched from the Merseyside shipyard.

As for the dry-dock programme of the 209m Ulysses, the cruise-ferry which arrived in the first week of this month, Afloat has tracked to the 236m Dry-Dock downriver of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Among the works, is the overhaul of the main engine starboard gearbox. Such work will require the creation of a technical opening through the ferry’s deck, this is to facilitate the team to lift heavier items from the engine room and then be transported to the engineering workshop.

The team at the A&P yard at Hebburn, Tyne & Wear, is also carrying out CPP blade seal replacements on both sets of the vessel’s propellers. In addition to rudder-clearances, rudder beck flap renewals, the overhaul of flap-hinges, tail-shaft wear-downs and an overhaul of the steering gear.

Also A&P have been tasked in the removal of life-boats, life-rafts and the Marine Evacuation Systems that will all require servicing.

Published in Irish Ferries
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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About Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries, owned by the Irish Continental Group, is a a major ferry operator in Ireland, providing daily and weekly links to and from Ireland for tourism and freight travelling between Ireland and the UK and Ireland and the continent. Irish Ferries has a fleet of six ships, three of which service the busy Dublin to Holyhead route.

The ICG Chairman is John B McGuckian and the CEO is Eamon Rothwell.