Ship Photo of the Day: Clipper Stad Amsterdam’s Refurbishment at Damen Shipyards

The three-masted, steel-hulled Clipper ‘Stad Amsterdam’ undergoes a complete overhaul at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The revision of the thirteen year old vessel will give her a ‘second youth’. The work will be finished before the end of May 2013. Image: Damen Shipyards

The Clipper Stad Amsterdam, jointly owned by the city of Amsterdam and HR agency Randstad, has been plying the world’s oceans continuously since her commissioning almost thirteen years ago, explains Roland Berendsen, Managing Director of shipping company Clipper Stad Amsterdam. “The vessel sails without interruption 365 days a year over the oceans. Sea, sun, salt and wind have left their traces. Next to an annual regular maintenance period, we’ve chosen one big, radical revamp giving the vessel a second youth. Hereafter she sails again for ten to fifteen years.’’

Thirteen years ago Damen was closely involved in the finishing of the Clipper, delivering the hull at its yard Oranjewerf in Amsterdam. “That makes it especially nice that we were asked for this revamp,” says Bas Loohuis, Commercial Manager for Damen Shiprepair & Conversion.

Scope of Work

The removal of the Clipper’s interior has already resulted in 175 tons of waste, a figure which doesn’t include the 123 tons of ballast lead which has yet to be removed.  The hull will then be blasted and refinished and some of the hull sheets will be renewed.

In the next phase, the Clipper will be loaded on a barge, lifted out of the water and is placed in the well-equipped production hall. There the reconstruction will start, including the renewal of almost all pipes and wiring and replacement of parts of the vessel’s wooden superstructure.

During the revamp only the three steel lower masts will stay in place. The top masts and spars will be removed, maintained and replaced. All standing rigging wires will be renewed. The navigation bridge and Chartroom is redesigned and gets the latest equipment. Below deck crew mess and office are redesigned as well. Extra storage will be created by redesigning two cabins.

Robin Juranek, Project Manager for Damen Shiprepair adds: “The planning for this job is a great challenge. The ship will move over our yard. That requires a strict alignment of all involved. For those jobs which we’re not used to, for instant the finishing of the accommodation, we can call for our colleagues of the nearby super yacht yard Amels, also a member of the Damen Shipyards Group.’’

The renewed Clipper Stad Amsterdam will make sea trials mid May 2013, according to planning. On June 1st the vessel will set sail for Rouen, France.

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