BELLINGHAM, Wash. - - - When a 235-foot (71.6m), 250-passenger ferry pulls into a shipyard with a long list of SOLAS upgrade items and a repower, you know it's going to involve a good deal of both time and money. Such was the case recently when the Alaska Marine Highway (AMHS) fairy LeConte visited Bellingham Bay Shipyard (BBS) for $7.4 million worth of work that took almost six months to complete.

For the repower, BBS installed a pair of new low-NOX, 2500-HP EMD ME12-645F7B diesels supplied by Valley Detroit Diesel, plus two gensets from NC Power Systems that were comprised of CAT 3412 diesels driving 435-kW generators. At the same time, a new switchboard from Harris Electric was installed by Sound Service Marine, who also installed a new PA/telephone system from Hose-McCann that was integrated into the general alarm system.

Major maintenance work was performed on the LeConte's tail shafts, port intermediate shaft, and rudders, with machining done by Machinists Inc. A drive train alignment check and vibration analysis were subsequently accomplished by Diehl Engineering, Inc.

Other major installations performed by Bellingham Bay on the LeConte included new side loading doors from Walz & Krenzer, a new ventilation system with ducting fabricated and installed by Ershigs, and new structural fire protection to meet the new SOLAS requirements. Insulation for the fire protection was installed by PCI whose PAS division handled abatement of existing asbestos on the vessel.

Another SOLAS upgrade item involved the installation of new davits from Schat-Harding for the Ambar fast rescue boat, along with a means of rescue (MOR) platform.

In the pilothouse, a variety of electronic and decor upgrades were accomplished. along with the installation of a Litton GMDSS system by Oceantech, also part of the SOLAS upgrade package.

In addition to all of the mechanical and structural work items, Bellingham Bay also blasted and repainted the entire vessel, from the keel to the upper deck prior to its return to service in Alaska.

"This was a major undertaking both for us and for our many fine subcontractors," said BBS president Billie Adams, "and I'm extremely proud of the hard work and cooperation they all exhibited throughout this lengthy project. Jobs of this complexity are a challenge for any shipyard," she added, "and the men and women of Bellingham Bay showed their mettle day in and day out on this one."

For additional information on SOLAS upgrades, vessel repowering, and other repair projects, please contact Bellingham Bay Shipyard, 201 Harris Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 USA; telephone (360) 647-0080; FAX (360) 738-0367: e-mail: [email protected]