Manxman enters Birkenhead dry dock as shafts are refitted after Danish repairs

The Steam Packet’s flagship ferry Manxman has gone into dry dock at Balaena Birkenhead. Its propulsion shafts, liners and bearings are being put back after specialist repairs in Denmark, according to Isle of Man Today.

The company confirmed the move this week and described it as the next step towards getting the £78m vessel back in service. It is still aiming for a return towards the end of November.

The components were repaired by MarineShaft A/S, an engineering firm in Hirtshals, Denmark. The Steam Packet called it one of the leading experts in the field. It said the firm had the facilities to work to the standards demanded by the company and its regulators.

According to the Steam Packet’s update, the work in Birkenhead includes:

• refitting both propulsion shafts, with their liners and bearings
• precision machining of the shaft bearing housings on board, carried out by MarineShaft engineers
• work on the propellers while the shafts go back in, so that they meet operational and regulatory standards

Once the parts are refitted, they will need to be recommissioned and the ship will then undergo sea trials before it can carry passengers again, Isle of Man Today reported.

The Steam Packet thanked Balaena, MarineShaft and others involved for their expertise and cooperation. It said its next update would come on Tuesday 27 October, or sooner if there was news.

The problem came to light in July, when wear was found on the shafts and related parts during routine dry-docking. The shafts, liners and bearings were then removed and shipped to Denmark, where the repairs are now complete.

The Steam Packet has previously said the repairs and dry-docking are expected to cost about £5m in total. It will pay from its own reserves and will not ask for Government funding.

That is double the £2.5m previously notified to Treasury. The company has explained that the lower figure was the point at which shareholder consent became necessary, not its estimate of the final bill.

Managing director Brian Thomson has said the company has commissioned an independent report into what caused the wear. He said it would try to recover costs through insurance and warranty where appropriate.

What damaged the shafts is still unknown. Documents released earlier under Freedom of Information legislation showed that members of the Steam Packet board had raised concerns that sediment in Douglas Harbour might have played a part in wear to the shaft bearings and liners.

That link has not been proven. Isle of Man Today reported that the independent report is expected to look at the circumstances of the wear.