Going topless in Hamburg

A stalwart of the western English Channel trade between the UK mainland and the Channel Islands, the 2,300 dwt coastal container ship Huelin Dispatch has recently undergone a major refit that unusually involved temporary removal of the vessel?s entire accommodation superstructure.

The refit, undertaken at the Norderwerft yard in Hamburg where the Huelin Dispatch was built in 1978, involved major works to the vessel?s main propulsion engine and replacement of the deck plating above the engine room. Some 60 similar vessels were built by Norderwerft in the late 1970s and the yard was considered by the ship?s owners, Huelin-Renouf of Jersey, to have the expertise and familiarity with this class of vessel to carry out the work on time and to budget.

With the vessel in the yard for just 17 days, the entire superstructure was secured, cut from the main deck and lifted by crane clear of the vessel while the engine plating was cropped and renewed. In making the best use of the unique opportunity, major works to the ship?s MaK main 8M452AK engine resulted in five of eight cylinders enjoying a major overhaul, supplemented by reconditioning of the generators, pumps and couplings throughout the engine room. New steelwork was also fitted in the holds whilst docking permitted removal and refurbishment of the vessel?s controllable pitch propeller, rudder and bow thruster.

Commenting on the refit, the vessel?s master, Captain Willie Woodard said: “Although 25 years old and with thousands of Channel crossings to its credit, the ship is generally in a very sound condition. With the major works now carried out, we believe that the vessel has many more years of useful life.”

The Huelin Dispatch operates a thrice-weekly container service between Portsmouth and Jersey and Guernsey carrying up to 126 TEU containing manufactured goods and Channel Islands market garden produce.