Workers seek to make ferry shipshape for launch

FROM the outside it may look like little is going on but, within the magnificent passenger ferry MV Julia, workers are beavering away to make her shipshape in time to sail on March 1 next.

The Julia’s diesel engines are getting a lot of TLC as part of a six-week project headed up by chief engineer, Bob Ives.

The Fastnet Line-owned vessel is also undergoing structural work to ensure she complies to the highest regulations for the restoration of Cork-Swansea route.

Before being purchased by a coop founded by West Cork Tourism, the 10-deck ferry previously worked the Baltic Sea.

Owen Barry, Fastnet Line’s head of operations, said regulations on the Irish-British routes were much stricter than on the Baltic and cross flooding doors had to be fitted to the car decks.

This work, which will take eight to 10 weeks, is being undertaken by naval experts from Glasgow.

As all the signs on the 300-berth ship are in Scandinavian languages, they will have to be changed into English. After that the Julia will get a good scrubbing and a lick of paint.

The ship — which has capacity for 1,860 passengers, 440 cars and 30 freight vehicles — is currently berthed at Horgan’s Quay in Cork.

However, next January, she will sail to Ringaskiddy where she will undergo berthing trials.

During the first week of February, the vessel will have to go into dry dock.

After that, the company will concentrate on crew training for a further two to three weeks.

“We have already chosen our engineering staff. The total crew will be up to 65,” Mr Barry said.

The ship is due to carry her first passengers to Wales on March 1 — St David’s Day.