Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has completed a major refit of the 700-passenger ferry Bermudian, which is owned by the government of Bermuda’s Department of Marine and Port Services.
The project was a massive undertaking. The shipyard repaired and repainted the steel hull, replaced the main engines and generators and upgraded critical systems. The updates were intended to improve the ship’s overall efficiency and extend the 37-year-old vessel’s life by another 15 years or more, the shipyard said in a news release.
Propulsion Data Services and Lloyd’s Register assisted with the project.
Gladding-Hearn crews replaced two 460-hp Detroit Diesel main engines with twin 600-hp Caterpillar C18 engines paired with ZF reduction gears and five-bladed HS Marine propellers. Bermudian’s service speed is now 12 knots with a full load.
Other changes include the installation of ZF electronic controls and a hydraulic system driven by a Kobelt power take-off. A separate hydraulic system using power take-offs from Logan Clutch driven by two 99-kW Caterpillar generators runs the deck winches, passenger ramps and bow thruster, the news release said. The bow thruster also was replaced by a Sleipner SH1000 unit.
Improvements also were made to the passenger bathroom spaces, carpeting, lighting and seating. A more powerful air conditioning system also will keep the vessel comfortable during hot summers. The vessel was equipped with a new Simrad multifunctional display linked to a Simrad radar.