Back-to-back cruise dockings for Gibdock

The 1982-built cruise ship arrived at the Gibraltar-based ship repair yard on 13 November to undertake works afloat and then docked on 21 November one day after Pullmantur’s Zenith had left the 260m x 38m x 10m dock after a 12-day stay.

“In many ways this was a routine dry docking, but with two large cruise ships docking one after the other we had to make doubly sure we managed the time pressures very carefully,” says Gibdock commercial director, Richard Beards.

The 214m long Thomson Destiny, owned by Louis Cruises, is on long term charter with Thomson Cruises. During the two week stay at Gibdock the yard carried out a variety of tasks including high pressure washing and painting of the vessel’s hull, refurbishment of the anchor chain, sea valves and bow thruster, pipe work and steel repairs in the tanks. Before entering drydock the yard carried out afloat repairs alongside.

Beards added: “We have developed a close working relationship with Louis Cruises and the fact that we have been able to secure repeat business of this type shows we are gaining the trust of leading regional cruise operators.” Louis Cruises’ superintendant, Chrysanthos Chrysanthou commented: “Gibdock’s project management has been very successful as the yard was able to handle multiple activities, and adapt to changes and additional requirements, and still complete all works ahead of time.”

Previously on 7 November, the 42,255gt, 1992-built Zenith arrived in Gibraltar for various tasks that had to be completed in time for the ship to leave dock on 20 November for Brazil to start its next cruise. One job was renewal of the rudder neck bushes which required the drilling of two holes into the bottom floor of the drydock so that the Zenith’s two rudders could be lowered to get them out. “Not many yards would go to such lengths,” says Richard Beards, Gibdock commercial director. “But it shows our flexibility and willingness to do whatever is necessary to meet our customer’s requirements.”

Pullmantur Cruises has previous experience of using Gibdock, docking a number of vessels with the yard in recent years, and this track record played a part in the yard winning this latest project.

A collision involving the three-year-old 5,500dwt multipurpose general cargo/container vessel Ems, owned by Werse Schiffahrts of Munster, Germany, recently brought a new customer to Gibdock.

The Ems was alongside in the port of Montril, Spain, when the vessel was struck by the bulbous bow of the ferry Ace 2 and suffered significant damage to both her port and starboard sides. The Ems arrived in Gibraltar in early December and some 22 tonnes of steel was used to repair the hole in the vessel’s side and other work during a 14 day period in Gibdock’s No3 drydock. On leaving the drydock, the Ems remained at the yard for further period of alongside repairs and maintenance to the hatch covers hydraulic systems.

The ship owner expressed itself highly satisfied with the work carried out and has indicated that it plans to bring further vessels to the yard in future. Werse’s superintendent, Capt Peter Lodygowski, said: “We recognised that this period before Christmas was a very busy one for everybody but Gibdock promised to get the extensive steel work done before the holiday time and they were true to their word. I can say that the quality of the steel work repairs was excellent, leaving me pleasantly surprised.”