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Clyde Shipyard In Temporary Shutdown Over Covid Fears

11th January 2021
Shipyard Ferguson Marine has closed for this week due to concerns of increased Covid-19 infection rates. Above Afloat adds the newbuild Glen Sannox, first of the duel-fuel ferries for operator CalMac, which last year was moved from the shipyard to Dales dry dock also located on the Clyde. Shipyard Ferguson Marine has closed for this week due to concerns of increased Covid-19 infection rates. Above Afloat adds the newbuild Glen Sannox, first of the duel-fuel ferries for operator CalMac, which last year was moved from the shipyard to Dales dry dock also located on the Clyde.

The Scottish shipyard that was contracted to build a pair of duel-fuel ferries, Ferguson Marine is being closed down for a week with immediate effect.

Bosses say they have temporarily closed their Port Glasgow yard and Greenock warehouse with immediate effect.

The Scottish Government-owned company says this is in response to increased Covid-19 infection rates in the Inverclyde area and concerns about the new variant of the virus.

The business has contacted all employees and trade unions to advise they have suspended production for one week to allow a 'comprehensive review of measures to ensure that the working environment at the yard continues to be as safe as possible'.

Production work will resume on Monday 18th January with briefings to advise employees of any changes to Covid-19 measures and to 'reinforce the need for personal responsibility in social distancing'.

More from the HeraldScotland here.

Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Shipyards

Afloat will be focusing on news and developments of shipyards with newbuilds taking shape on either slipways and building halls.

The common practice of shipbuilding using modular construction, requires several yards make specific block sections that are towed to a single designated yard and joined together to complete the ship before been launched or floated out.

In addition, outfitting quays is where internal work on electrical and passenger facilities is installed (or upgraded if the ship is already in service). This work may involve newbuilds towed to another specialist yard, before the newbuild is completed as a new ship or of the same class, designed from the shipyard 'in-house' or from a naval architect consultancy. Shipyards also carry out repair and maintenance, overhaul, refit, survey, and conversion, for example, the addition or removal of cabins within a superstructure. All this requires ships to enter graving /dry-docks or floating drydocks, to enable access to the entire vessel out of the water.

Asides from shipbuilding, marine engineering projects such as offshore installations take place and others have diversified in the construction of offshore renewable projects, from wind-turbines and related tower structures. When ships are decommissioned and need to be disposed of, some yards have recycling facilities to segregate materials, though other vessels are run ashore, i.e. 'beached' and broken up there on site. The scrapped metal can be sold and made into other items.