Last week, investigations intensified into the problems plaguing the Isle of Man Steam Packets flagship ferry, Manxman, as specialist teams worked to identify the cause of issues affecting the propulsion system.
Assisting the company’s project team are experts from Lloyd's Register who joined them on site (Balaena Birkenhead, Merseyside) as part of the continuing investigation. This has led to the installation of additional monitoring equipment so as to gather detailed operational data.
As such, the use of pressure sensors and cameras has been positioned throughout the propulsion system. This is to enable engineers to gain a greater insight into performance and help inform decisions for repairs of the 24,161-ton ferry, the largest in the company’s history.
However, due to the complexity of the work entailed, specialist attachment points had to be drilled and fitted into the 133m hull to securely mount monitoring equipment.
Alongside the investigative work at the northwest of England shipyard, repairs and component replacement plans continue to progress.
ManxRadio reports more on the ongoing delays to repair the flagship, which otherwise operates the main Douglas-Heysham route in Lancashire, England.
Also present at Balaena Birkenhead, Afloat adds the CalMac’s flagship, Loch Seaforth, which otherwise serves the Ullapool-Stornoway (Isle of Lewis & Harris) route in the Outer Hebrides of West Scotland.
The German-built flagship from 2010 is in dry-dock for a scheduled annual overhaul and maintenance programme according to the CalMac website, which in August had Isle of Lewis as the designated replacement ferry.
However, Afloat tracked today Glen Sannox, also assisting operations while away from Arran on the Forth of Clyde, with services currently maintained by Caledonian Isles on the Ardrossan route, while chartered catamaran Alfred links neighbouring Troon.
