German shipyards demonstrated some traditional skills of late, docking or berthing a range of specialised small vessels for repair, overhaul or conversion. Ever-busy Diedrich Werft in Oldersum hosted more ships from a range of operating sectors including specialist ferries and workboats for repair, overhaul or conversion.
The 31.2m ferry Baltrum 11 came for extensive overhaul and the 1895 smack Hiskeline von Norderney for conservation and damage repair. Another historic vessel, the 1922-built, 25m inland ship Tuemmler called for bottom inspection and the Emden workboat Leerort for repairs and maintenance. The 22.02m offshore wind farm tender Wind Force 1 came in for repairs, maintenance, equipment inspection and below-surface hull coating.
The 57m Frisia IX and the 31m Langeoog 1 were among the latest local ferries converted at Diederich to comply with new safety and stability regulations. The work on the former ship cost a reported €0.4 million.
In Stralsund, the 52m naval auxiliary Baltrum docked at Volkswerft for extensive maintenance. Berlin shares naval work among German shipyards and this job was no doubt welcome to the struggling former P+S yard as it changed ownership in June.
Another Berlin naval overhaul went to Nobiskrug in Rendsburg, part of the ADM Germany group. The 90m corvette Erfurt was drydocked in the yards 160m covered hall for regular overhaul including engine work and a small hull damage repair.
In Bremerhaven, German Dry Docks (GDD) berthed the wedge-shaped 86.2m long and nearly 40m wide Norwegian seismic research ship Ramform Challenger.
In an eight day stay, she got a pre-manufactured bridge nock to replace a damaged unit. Her Azimuth propulsion system was also overhauled and seismic sector repairs carried out along with class and engine maintenance and the replacement of cold water chillers.
Earlier, the 77m supply and anchor handling tug UOS Liberty and her sister UOS Challenger called for class work, docking, repairs and coating. The 76.5m offshore construction ship REM Star underwent tank blasting and coating as well as overhaul of her bow and stern thrusters and rudder and propeller plant.
Elsewhere it was revealed that Germany’s last remaining full-rigged sailing ship, the 86.2m Schulschiff Deutschland, would go into an as yet unidentified shipyard in autumn for work costing €1 million.
The steel hull on the three-master, built in 1927 to train seafarers, is extensively corroded. She has been heritage protected since extensively the mid 1990s and the Government is covering most of the cost of the latest repair.
Another museum piece, the 81 year old steam ice-breaker Stettin, visited Blohm + Voss for her latest month-long class docking recently. Reports said the work covered 150 items including the replacement of a large part of her external hull plating and the replacement of her rudder plant.