Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has stemmed the ultimate contrast in old and new ships at its facilities in Portsmouth with the warship HMS Warrior and fast ferry Condor Express in adjacent dry docks.

HMS Warrior 1860, the first iron hulled warship, was docked for the first time in ten years to undergo blasting and painting below the waterline.

Utilising a Dockmaster 300 ultra high pressure water blasting and residue collecting machine, her hull was blasted and then received four coats of paint culminating in an epoxy coating.

An area of 2,350 square metres of hull surface was covered and the work was completed two days ahead of programme.

Advantage was also taken of the ship’s 18-day stay in dock to carry out surveys and other topsides maintenance work.

Condor Express was the first in a series of fast ferries expected to use the FSL facilities during this winter. She has undergone annual maintenance and machinery overhauls, including replacement of one of her Ruston engines.

FSL Director of Engineering and Ship Support, Mal Lewis, commented: “The dockings reflect the specialist skills that we possess at FSL. We have become experts in fast ferry refits and we have the traditional skills that are widely utilised on heritage vessels.”