During the slack freight period over the Easter holiday P&O took the opportunity to withdraw the European Highlander for a two day period to undergo a planned underwater hull survey and clean up operation alongside the Port of Larne's berth at Curran Quay.

The Highlander completed her final sailing prior to her survey with the 0730 sailing ex Cairnryan on the 15/4/06.  Her cargo was loaded at Cairnryan on the main freight deck only and when the ship arrived at Larne at 0930 she was able to go straight into the single tier ramp at Curran Quay, discharge her inbound cargo and immediately begin the hull survey work.

Prior to the survey, multicat tug Sergeant Pepper arrived in the port to act as support vessel for the divers.  She loaded divers and their equipment at Phoenix Quay ready for the survey work to proceed.   A collection of photographs of the survey work and hull cleaning is presented below, all the photographs received with thanks from 'The Boatman.'

European Highlander at Curran Quay with Sergeant Pepper loading divers and equipment at Phoenix Quay	Sergeant Pepper working at the after end of European Highlander
Two views of Sergeant Pepper working along the port side of European Highlander.  Right picture shows well the comparison between cleaned and green areas of hull.
Sergeant Pepper working alongside European Highlander at Curran Quay on 15/4/06.  The ferry has been ballasted to expose her port side for cleaning.	Getting her green beard shaved off, Sergeant Pepper's crew power wash European Highlander's hull to removed the green marine growth

The survey work and clean up of European Highlander's underwater hull was completed by 1800 on the 16/4/06.  The ship moved from Curran Quay at 1800 to her usual loading berth at MacKean Quay and loaded there for a 2000 sailing to Cairnryan.  Thereafter the normal two ship conventional ferry service to Cairnryan resumed.  With a hull now cleaned of green marine growth European Highlander can achieve a little extra speed whilst at her normal operational engine power output compared to before her 'shave.'  The survey work now extends her certificates when a full survey will be carried out during her next dry docking.

Taking the European Highlander's place on Curran Quay was Dublin - Liverpool vessel Norbay which was in Larne for a similar underwater hull survey carried out by Sergeant Pepper and her attendant divers. 

While European Highlander was off service her sister ship European Causeway along with Express and European Mariner kept Cairnryan sailings operating to a revised timetable.  On Saturday 15/4/06 and Sunday 16/4/06 sailings on the route were given as follows:

Updated: 28/04/06

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