The Government of Bermuda’s Marine and Port Services has taken delivery of the 700-passenger ferry Bermudian after a major refit at Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Mass.
With Lloyd’s Register providing class oversight, Gladding-Hearn said the work was managed jointly with Propulsion Data Services. The yard said the refit is intended to extend the 37-year-old vessel’s life by another 15 years.
Its original twin Detroit Diesel 12V-71 460 Bhp main engines were replaced with Caterpillar C-18, 600 Bhp, IMO Tier 2 diesel engines. Gladding-Hearn also fitted new controls and monitoring systems. It added enlarged shafts, seals, bearings, cooling and exhaust systems, and ZF W650 gear boxes driving 5-bladed HS Marine Ni-Br-Al propellers.
With a full load of passengers, the repowered ferry has a service speed of 12 knots. In the engine room, the Halon fire-suppression system was replaced with a new clean-agent system.
Passenger spaces were renewed, including the five heads, the main cabin and its 150 seats. Gladding-Hearn said the black and grey-water-holding capacity was enlarged to comply with zero-discharge requirements. A new 36,000 Btu air-conditioning system, LED lighting, audio/visual passenger information system and CCTV system were installed.
New electronics include a Simrad NSS16 EVO multifunctional display linked to HALO24 radar and the vessel’s existing AIS. The incandescent navigation, flood and search lights were replaced with LED fixtures.