"WIGHT LIGHT" UNDERGOES REFIT AT A&P FALMOUTH.

The Wightlink RO-RO ferry Wight Light is one of the latest vessels to benefit from A&P Falmouth’s ferry expertise.

Wight Light (a passenger and vehicle ferry which operates between Lymington and Yarmouth) visited A&P Falmouth for its two-yearly refit period. Vessels from the Wightlink fleet have been visiting A&P Falmouth since the early 2000s for dry-dockings and maintenance work.

During Wight Light’s recent refit, a new engine was fitted and commissioned, leak and dye penetrant testing was carried out on its forward and aft Voith blades, along with deflection testing of its aft Voith propulsion unit.

Additional works include replacing hydraulic pipework on the ship’s garage deck, calibration and inline machining of the mezzanine deck’s forward and aft ramps, servicing of the ship’s rescue boat engine and davit, along with servicing of all firefighting appliances and machinery.

A&P Falmouth’s rigging department also carried out testing and certification of all the ship’s lifting equipment and eye plates, creating a new database to aid ease of identification and compliance for ship staff.

Steve Jones, Managing Director for Operations and Site Director at A&P Falmouth, said: “A&P Falmouth has extensive knowledge of the Wightlink fleet and we were delighted to welcome Wight Light back to our facility to undertake her refit period.

“A&P Falmouth is highly specialised in supporting the ferry sector and strategically located to support ferry companies operating in the Isle of Wight and in the Channel Isles. It is encouraging to see UK ferry operators continuing to choose to use UK facilities and skills to maintain their fleet.”

Wightlink Head of Engineering Charlie Field said: “Wightlink has sent its vessels to A&P Falmouth for regular refits and maintenance periods for several years. The workforce has a good understanding of our fleet, minimising the downtime and service to our customers.”

Notes to Editors

A&P Group is a leading provider of ship repair, conversion and marine services and heavy engineering expertise. Operating seven dry docks and extensive fabrication facilities across four strategic locations in the UK, A&P Group also has a business in Australia that provides ship repair services and support to the Royal Australian Navy.

As one of the leading engineering business in the UK, A&P is also involved in a diverse range of fabrication and repair projects across a broad cross section of sectors including Defence, Marine, Oil and Gas, Subsea, Energy, Civil and Nuclear. Projects include the fabrication of built modules for the Astute Submarine Class and the prestigious HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers, cable carousels, flood barriers, steam turbines, shore side access systems and FPSO upgrades.

All A&P Group facilities combine a rich heritage of marine and engineering skills and experience, providing a diverse customer base with all the precision skills needed to complete the most demanding projects.