Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has completed one of its busiest winter refit periods of recent years following a maintenance programme on 15 ferries.
Cross-Solent and cross-Channel vessels operated by Wightlink, Red Funnel, Condor, Speed Ferries and HD Ferries have all entered FSL’s Portsmouth Naval Base facilities for survey and repair work.
The Wightlink programme saw all eight Portsmouth and Lymington-based ships undergo two-week periods in dock, implementing the first year of a three-year agreement that will see FSL carry out annual dockings of all the fleet.
Work has also included engine and Voith Schneider propulsion unit overhauls, and painting. The full fleet was returned to programme with the ships back in full operation for the start of the peak traffic period at Easter.
Wightlink General Operations Manager John Burrows commented: “We have been extremely pleased with the performance of FSL and its sub-contractors in this first year of the fleet docking contract. Their flexible approach and willingness to respond to extra requirements fully demonstrates FSL’s capability in the commercial shiprepair market.”
Besides the Wightlink fleet, FSL carried out work at the same time on Red Funnel’s Southampton-based Raptor Class ships. Red Eagle underwent a two-week survey and maintenance refit, while the other two ships entered Portsmouth for short survey dockings.
Completing the line-up of ferries this winter have been cross-Channel passenger catamarans, where FSL has worked closely with Burgess Engineering. Condor Ferries docked the Condor Express and Condor Vitesse, and Speed Ferries stemmed its catamaran which operates between Dover and Boulogne.
In addition, HD Ferries docked its HD1 catamaran at Portsmouth for fitting a new bow ramp, fabricated by FSL and installed by Burgess Engineering. The vessel has now started sailings between the Channel Islands and France.
“We were delighted with the speed and quality of work done at Portsmouth, which helped us to achieve the tight timescales that were set,” said HD Marketing Director James Howe-Davies.
Caption for photo: Wightlink’s St.Catherine in dock at FSL
Enquiries: Phil Rood, Public Relations, Fleet Support Limited. Telephone: 0794 1164756.