The vessel is laid up ahead of a scheduled deep inspection later this month.
Travel Trident managing director Peter Wilcox has had to get creative with the maintenance and repairs including custom-built ‘shoes’ to lift the boat clear of the ground at low tide to allow all the necessary maintenance to be completed.
The vessel rises and falls with tides in the harbour, making maintenance of the hull difficult.
With only a certain window of time each day between tides, the team has had to overcome a few hurdles to prepare for the big inspection.
‘Once every five years the Maritime and Coastguard Agency carries out an inspection of the propellers and propeller shafts as well as the rudder,’ Mr Wilcox explained.
‘We need at least a metre below (the vessel) to drop the rudders down for the MCA to inspect the shaft and the propellers will need to be pulled out for maintenance and inspection as well.’
The problem facing the Trident V team was that the harbour did not have the particular equipment needed to hoist the vessel out of the water.
Mr Wilcox said he approached Guernsey Harbours for advice and assistance but it did not have anything that suited Trident V’s specific needs.
Mr Wilcox then contracted Dan Hamon of Hamon Fabrications to create a customised set-up to lift the vessel enough to allow his team to work on it.
Mr Hamon and his apprentice, Dan Naftel, designed and installed steel trestles which are now fixed to the underside of the boat and keep it clear of the slipway.
At 6am on Wednesday, when the tide was just right, the supports were set in place using carefully coordinated pulleys and winches.
The fuel tank has also been emptied and the shafts will be pulled this week ahead of the MCA inspectors’ visit. They are expected to be on the island for a few days to complete their work.
The crucial passenger licence for the Trident V will be granted off the back of the vessel passing MCA’s inspection.
The inspection is due to start on 15 February.
Travel Trident has not been operating this winter, but is due to restart in the spring.
