A Look at a Larne Ferry Web Favourite:
For the ship enthusiast, Larne Harbour just hasn't been the same since the famous double funnels of the Sealink Saint Class left the harbour for the final time in November 1995. A much welcome return for 2 members of the class, Stena Caledonia (ex St David) and Stena Galloway (ex Galloway Princess) was due to happen in 2000, but that was aborted due to contractual reasons.
Now the Stena Caledonia is the only one still in service around the British Isles operating for Stena Line on the Belfast to Stranraer route. During her annual overall at Harland and Wolff her Senior Master allowed Larne Ferry Web on board to catch up on an old friend.
At first glance the Stena Caledonia seems small in the
enormous dry dock at Harland and Wolff, which she was also sharing with a
trawler from Kilkeel. Work is ongoing below her usual waterline as well as
inside the accommodation and car decks. The wet weather prevented any
major work being done to the hull and superstructure.
Now its time for some respect, from the bottom of the dock
the Stena Caledonia towers overhead. The bulbous bow was added a
couple of years ago and replaced the bow rudder that she was fitted with when
she was built in 1981. Her bow thrusters have been removed for
refurbishment and her bow door is also receiving attention.
The Stena Caledonia's starboard propeller and
rudder. The oval shaped pieces of metal on the rudder and the underside of
the hull are sacrificial anodes of zinc to stop corrosion of the steel.
The starboard stabiliser is prepared by a shipyard worker for
welding repairs.
A view of the stern from half way up the steps out of the dry
dock. This shows clearly the new fin sponsons at the stern and the
associated lengthening that the vessel had done in 1999. The fairlead
furthest to the left of the image used to be right at the stern, now it is
around 3 metres away from the new stern rail.
Inside the vessel the ship's internal ramps and car decks were getting considerable attention. The top car deck had been cleaned ready for repainting with a fresh coat of blue paint. The engine and alternator rooms were a flurry of activity and a panel in the lower car deck had been lifted to allow access to the engine room for something large to be lifted down.
Upstairs in the accommodation the main corridors were covered in cardboard to stop the carpets getting dirty. Chairs were either covered up with plastic or carefully stacked out of the way. It was quite a contrast to the last time I travelled aboard in April 2002 when she was just fresh out of overhaul and looking her best. Let's hope the current wet weather breaks so that she may return to service back to her very best once again.
One from the Archive: The Stena Caledonia entering
Larne in her Stena Sealink Line livery at the conclusion of an 1130 sailing ex
Stranraer. This was during the Larne - Stranraer route's hay day when 3
Saint class ships, Stena Antrim, Stena Galloway and Stena Caledonia
operated the route together. Photo: Dougie McIntyre.
Updated: 13/02/05