Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird has enjoyed a busy start to 2022 with a range of vessels coming into Birkenhead for upgrades and a visit from the Prime Minister. Tony McDonough reports

Shipbuilder and repairer Cammell Laird is reporting a busy first quarter of 2022 with multiple vessels sailing into its Birkenhead yard for upgrades.

In March, the yard also hosted a national event that saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson visit to unveil the Government’s refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy, a rolling 30-year programme of new vessels with contracts worth billions of pounds.

Ro-Ro passenger ship MV Hebrides departed no 6 drydock on Wednesday, March 21, following an extensive overhaul and repair programme. This included the replacement of its sewage treatment plant, and the replacement of its fast rescue boat davits. The vessel is operated by CalMac and connects the Scottish isles of Skye and Harris.

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Stena Adventurer, a ROPAX ship owned by Stena Line, has returned to Cammell Laird for a large package of repair and overhaul works, which included the application of a new paint system.

It is one of two vessels, which operates on Stena Line’s Holyhead-Dublin route and makes two crossings per day. The ship has a maximum capacity of 1,500 passengers and 500 cars.

LM Constructor, a working barge, arrived in no 5 drydock on Friday, March 25, for five-year survey works. Built in the Netherlands in 1983, it is a general-purpose vessel suitable for a wide range of inshore projects. Belgian tug Zeebrugge, is the latest vessel to depart Cammell Laird following a 16-day docking period for repair and overhaul works.

In January, Commissioners of Irish Lights vessel Granuaile docked at Cammell Laird. The multifunctional vessel, which services offshore buoys and is used for search and rescue missions, underwent general drydocking works for maintenance and repair including painting.

Svitzer Milgarth also docked in January for general drydock works including port and starboard aquamaster shaft seal removal, and general inspections. The third CalMac vessel of the season, MV Clansman arrived in no 6 drydock in January also, for an extensive programme of overhaul and repair works.

Mike Hill, managing director of Cammell Laird, said: “It has been fantastic to see all of our ship repair facilities being used during this busy period. The recent works we have carried out highlights the demand of Cammell Laird and its highly skilled workforce.

“We look forward to welcoming our returning and new customers to the facility over the coming months.”