Quiet start to year at B+V

B+V spokesman Michael Brasse told The Motorship: “The docks were relatively quiet in January, which is usual at this time of the year”. He also reported the signing of the contract with Abu Dhabi was expected mid February.

The yard recently undertook two weeks of repair and maintenance work in Dock 16 on the historic 97m square rigger Rickmer Rickmers in addition to a string of routine dockings.

About 150m² of double hull plating was installed on the 114-year-old Rickmer Rickmers to strengthen weakened plating prior to new hull coating. Two midship water ballast tanks and a forward hold were prepared and conserved as display areas, a glass hatch cover fitted and a rigging inspection carried out. The work reportedly cost more than €200,000. The three-master was last docked for repairs in mid 2003 –also at B+V Repair.

She has not been the only historic vessel at the yard of late. Just returned to her owners by B+V is the Nahlin after 18 months of extensive restorative technical and interior work which reports said cost a lot, although the sum was not disclosed.

Built on the Clyde in 1930, Nahlin is 91.4m long and was for many years in Romanian hands before becoming a Danube restaurant. Her restoration began in Liverpool, continued at Germany’s Nobiskrug yard and ended at B+V in a dock leased from the Nordseewerke in Emden.

Among other recent visitors to B+V Repair, apart from the regular end-of-year cruise ships, have been the 14,200 dwt ro-ro ship Anvil Point for alongside overhaul of her two MaK 94M43 diesels and accommodation changes. Other callers included the 73,000 dwt bulk carrier Barito, the 82,800 dwt bulk carrier Filomena Lembo and the 11,737 dwt car carrier Sea Hana.