Dockside Super Yacht | July 2018

Motor Yacht Polar Star

The 65m Lurssen explorer yacht, Polar Star, dry-docked with Babcock in October 2017.

The work package included: removal of rudders and propellers for survey, inspection of the stern thruster, under water hull preservation, ballast tank cleaning and painting.

Survey of plimsoll and draught marks were also completed along with replacement of impressed current system and hull anodes and polishing anchor pockets and fairleads.

This was Babcock’s first docking of Polar Star and first opportunity to work with Master Yachts, the Mallorca based managers of the vessel. The communications and co-operation throughout the project with both the crew and management company was excellent.

Luxury Motor Yacht Tango

The 78m Feadship luxury motor yacht Tango dry-docked in December 2017 for a 14 day work package that included survey of the hull and propeller shaft line as well as underwater hull repairs and preservation.

Explorer Yacht Artic P

The 87.5m explorer yacht Arctic P dry-docked with Babcock in April 2018, her third visit to us.

For 2018 the work list was limited to intermediate survey items and underwater hull preservation. Previous work packages have included overhaul of capstans and propeller shafts, main engine surveys.

Modifications included replacement of existing generator sets with new Deutz BF8M1015MC engines; installation of a new switchboard and command and control cabling; new exhaust systems, fuel lines and installation of new sea water cooling lines. Structural modifications such as construction of air inlet plenum chambers; new stairways and modifications to boat cradles have been completed with design support from Marine Industrial Design (MID).

Motor Yacht Vibrant Curiosity

The 85m Oceanco built motor yacht Vibrant Curiosity dry-docked with Babcock in 2016 for underwater hull repairs and preservation, and for inspection of underwater equipment including; propeller shaft and rudders, hull anodes, anchor chains and lockers.

To remove any risk of contaminating the yacht’s topsides and superstructure whilst spraying the required Intersleek 1100SR antifoul coating system, the underwater area was encapsulated using scaffold and shrink-wrap. The encapsulation, hull repairs and coating preparation and application was completed within a 29 day dry-dock period.

Cruise Ship – Wind Spirit sailed from Tahiti to dry-dock

The 134m LOA, 5,736grt, motor sailing vessel Wind Spirit, repositioned from her cruising base in French Polynesia to dry-dock with Babcock for 14 days in 2017.

Babcock’s marine workshop removed the rudder and propeller shaft for survey and also assisted the attending Wartsila technicians with installation of a replacement propeller oil distribution box.

Other key dry-dock works included; steel work repairs; sea valve surveys; overhaul and testing of life boat davits and high pressure water blasting and painting of the under water hull and boot topping. Overseas owner’s specialists also attended the yard period, with the most notable being abseiling specialists to climb the four 62 metre high masts to check and repair stays and rigging.

Caledonia Sky

The 4,200 grt passenger cruise ship, Caledonian Sky, managed by Sweden’s Salen Ship Management, dry-docked with Babcock in 2014 and 2016, and has booked to dock with Babcock again in 2018.

In 2016, Babcock’s team joined the vessel in Port Vila, Vanuatu, for the five day sail to Auckland to commence removals and complete plate thickness measurement in preparation for dry-dock repairs. Two shifts and seven-day working was employed on steel repairs and fabrication works, to minimize the repair period. Babcock’s engineering team is working closely with Salen Ship Management to prepare an extensive maintenance programme for the 17 days docking period available between the scheduled 2018 New Zealand cruises.

Motor Yacht Dragonfly dry-docking with Super Yacht Sarissa

The 73 m Silver Series motor yacht, Dragonfly, dry-docked in 2016 for remedial work on the vessel’s propeller shaft bearings and general maintenance.

The propeller shafts and rudders were removed, and repairs carried out on stern tube and rudder stock housings prior to installation of new bearings. Other dry-dock activities included; fin stabiliser overhaul; underwater hull preservation; application of PropSpeed; anchor chain survey; hydraulic power pack service; structural survey and tender garage floor upgrade.

The 43m sailing yacht Sarissa shared the dock with Dragonfly for replacement of the operating rams for the yacht’s lifting keel.

Sailing Yacht M5

The 75m single masted sailing yacht, M5, was dry-docking in 2016 for hull cleaning, understanding hull painting and for polishing of the topsides for application of a Zytexx ceramic coating.

Whilst in dock, the yacht’s main sail boom was removed for repairs; a new speed log was installed and a propeller control gauge replaced.