Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird enjoys one of the strongest ever starts to a year in 2024 with multiple vessels in for repair and overhaul. Tony McDonough reports

Cammell Laird has seen multiple vessels in its four dry docks in the first quarter of 2024, representing one of its busiest starts to a year.

In January the Birkenhead-based business, part of the UK-wide APCL Group, revealed it had returned to profit after several years of losses in what were described as ‘some of the most challenging times in its history’.

Since the start of 2024, Cammell Laird has welcomed three Stena Line vessels to its facility – Stena Edda, Stena Embla and Stena Adventurer. Stena Edda and Stena Embla provide a key daily route between the Mersey and Belfast.

Stena Adventurer is the ninth ship to dock in the season and has undergone a major programme of works. These include extensive steel deck repairs, main propulsion system overhaul and other auxiliary works such as roller fairlead overhauls.

February saw Cammell Laird’s first double docking of 2024 – with CalMac Ferries Hebrides and Mersey Ferries’ Royal Iris simultaneously undergoing their programme of ship repair works in number 6 dock.

Following its annual overhauls, Calmac’s Caledonian Isles entered dry dock at Cammell Laird for extensive steelwork repairs. All vessels visiting Cammell Laird had their blasting and painting scope completed by APCL Group company – Neway Industrial Services.

In January, Neway completed the re-paint and livery change for A&P Falmouth’s new tug – Morva. The tug, previously called Svitzer Surrey, visited Cammell Laird’s facility for conversion.

Morva is currently powered by HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil), part of a continuing initiative by APCL to reduce emissions in port.

APCL Group brings together A&P Group, A&P Australia, Cammell Laird and Neway. A&P Group and Cammell Laird are the UK’s largest commercial ship building and repair operations supported by blasting and painting company Neway Industrial Services.

Since the start of 2024, the APCL Group of companies have seen a “significant period of growth”, with its three UK facilities operating at full capacity.

In the North East, A&P Tyne has experienced back to back dockings as a number of offshore vessels have visited the facility. Hybrid powered diving support vessel Boka Atlantis departed A&P Tyne in February following a programme of ship repair works.

Boka Atlantis was quickly replaced with the arrival of multi-role survey vessel, Ocean Resolution, returning dredger Arco Avon and oil tanker Solway Fisher.

In the South West, A&P Falmouth has successfully completed four dockings of Red Funnel’s fleet of passenger ferries – all of whom arrived for their annual repair periods.

READ MORE: New vessel expands Stena Birkenhead to Dublin capacity

David McGinley, chief executive of APCL, said: “It has been an excellent start to 2024 for APCL Group. We have experienced our busiest period to date with dockings from new and returning commercial customers alike.

“This firmly cements our position as the country’s leading ship repair and conversion specialist, and it is fantastic to see our facilities across the group working together to accommodate our clients.

“I look forward to a busy summer period where we have many more projects in the pipeline.”