Commercial Growth for APCL Group

The APCL Group of companies has experienced a significant period of growth from the start of 2024, with its three UK facilities operating at full capacity.

APCL Group brings together A&P Group, A&P Australia, Cammell Laird and Neway. A&P Group and Cammell Laird are the UK’s largest commercial ship building and repair operations supported by blasting and painting company Neway Industrial Services. 

In the North East, A&P Tyne has experienced back to back dockings as a number of offshore vessels have visited the facility. 

Hybrid-powered diving support vessel Boka Atlantis departed A&P Tyne in February following a programme of ship repair works.

The scope of works included painting of the vessel’s hull and topsides, polishing of the thruster blades and high pressure washing of cooler boxes as well as the overhaul of 30 fairlead rollers. The team also supported the OEM with the vessel's 140 tonne crane.

Boka Atlantis was quickly replaced with the arrival of multi-role survey vessel, Ocean Resolution, returning dredger Arco Avon and oil tanker Solway Fisher.

In the South West, A&P Falmouth has successfully completed four dockings of Red Funnel’s fleet of passenger ferries – all of whom arrived for their annual repair periods.

A&P Falmouth was able to utilise No3 Dock to accommodate the simultaneous docking of Red Eagle and Red Kestrel. The scope of works included hull cleaning and blasting, painting, replacement of steel in the hulls, tank cleaning, various inspections and other survey associated work. 

A&P Falmouth has also undertaken several projects for P&O Ferries, Wightlink and Stena Line to date.

In the North West, Cammell Laird has experienced its busiest commercial period to date, with its four dry docks accommodating a variety of customers.

Since the start of 2024, Cammell Laird has welcomed three Stena Line vessels to its facility – Stena Edda, Stena Embla and Stena Adventurer. Stena Adventurer is the 9th ship to dock in the season has undergone a large programme of works includes extensive steel deck repairs, main propulsion system overhaul and other auxiliary works such as roller fairlead overhauls.

February saw Cammell Laird’s first double docking of 2024 – with CalMac Ferries Hebrides and Mersey Ferries’ Royal Iris of the Mersey simultaneously undergoing their programme of ship repair works in number 6 dock. Following its annual overhauls, Calmac’s Caledonian Isles entered dry dock at Cammell Laird for extensive steelwork repairs.

All vessels visiting Cammell Laird had their blasting and painting scope completed by APCL Group company - Neway Industrial Services.

In January, Neway completed the re-paint and livery change for A&P Falmouth’s new tug – Morva. The Tug, previously Svitzer Surrey, visited Cammell Laird’s facility for conversion. Morva is currently powered by HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), part of a continuing initiative by APCL to reduce emissions in port. 

David McGinley, Chief Executive of APCL, said:

"It has been an excellent start to 2024 for APCL Group. We have experienced our busiest period to date with dockings from new and returning commercial customers alike. This firmly cements our position as the country's leading ship repair and conversion specialist, and it is fantastic to see our facilities across the Group working together to accommodate our clients. I look forward to a busy summer period where we have many more projects in the pipeline."