Waverley Leaves Dry Dock on 10th May
On 10th May tugs Bruiser and Biter eased Waverley out of the Garvel dry dock to (almost) mark the completion of Waverley’s 41st winter maintenance under preservation.
Battler and Biter turn Waverley outside Garvel dry dock at 1420.
As always, the winter work keeps the ship’s engineers and volunteers busy as they work under the guidance of Technical Superintendant Ken Henderson. Not only does this involve a lot of work but it involves a wide variety of (often one-off) specialised tasks which require significant expertise, for example the complete rebuild of the capstan which required the casting of a new block with its complex internal passageways.
Winter maintenance is an expensive business which this year has been supplemented by supporters and PSPS contributions. The Ruby appeal raised £33,700 from 234 individual supporters for replacement of two masts and deck timber repairs. The main mast was replaced in dry dock, although the foremast will not be replaced until it is life expired. The PSPS Scottish Branch also contributed £18,000 for the cost of replacement paddle floats.
Eagle-eyed (male) passengers may notice that some of the ‘rivets’ in the gents toilets look a bit strange. This is because they are fake as much of the plating and associated frames in the toilets needed to be cut out and replaced whilst in dry dock. Prior to everything in the toilets adjacent to the external plating had to be removed and replaced. This was just one of the many tasks undertaken by volunteers.
Battler eases Waverley out of dry dock at 1410.
Battler manoeuvres Waverley outside Garvel dry dock at 1419.
Biter pulls Waverley around outside Garvel dry dock at 1422.
Biter and Battler taking Waverley from Garvel dry dock to Greenock’s Custom House Quay at 1425.
Waverley off Greenock’s Custom House Quay fresh from dry dock at 1429.
A rare view of still paddles whilst Waverley is under way, towed by tugs.
On the 11th Waverley had her sea trails which included swinging the compass to calibrate it, thus explaining the odd track visible on ship tracking software. She then returned to Glasgow for the final preparations before the start of the sailing season on 27th May.
Track of Waverley sea trials on 11th May.
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