At Strela Shiprepair, work is underway on the largest order of the year so far: the 110-metre bulker “Bohwa Pioneer” is being extensively repaired.
The ship was last moored in Uddavalla, Sweden, and then came to the Strelasund with a damaged steering gear.
After the “BBC Georgia” in May 2023, the “Bohwa Pioneer” is a particularly large order for the repair shipyard in Stralsund. One challenge for the lift is not so much the length, but rather the compact and heavy design of the ship.
The bulker is 110 m long, 19 m wide and has a deadweight of 8,767 tons. The ship has two cranes, each of which can lift 30 tons. The cargo hold of the “Bohwa Pioneer” is designed for up to 12,700 tons of grain, for example. The ship was built in 2010 at the Jong Shyn Shipbuilding shipyard in Taiwan. The design is typically Chinese with the design of the “anchor pockets”, the cranes and the shape of the hull.
Following the damage to the steering gear, the bulker will now make a stopover at Strela Shiprepair. The tugs “Fairplay-56” from Rostock and the shipyard’s own “Robin Hood” moved the ship into the lift pit before it could be lifted out of the water. Over the next few days, the rudder blade and rudder stock will be dismantled first. The rudder bearings need to be checked and the entire steering gear will also be inspected.
To determine the overall extent of the damage, the propeller and tail shaft will also be removed. “This is a somewhat larger construction site than just a quick docking,” long-time shipyard expert and photographer Eckhard Fraede told HANSA. “Especially as we already know from experience at Strela Shiprepair that there’s always more to come.” However, they are prepared for surprises.
Burnt-out tanker “Annika” being repaired at Strela
The burnt-out tanker “Annika” is one of the other ships currently being repaired at Strela. The ship caught fire off Kühlungsborn in October, possibly due to a damaged fuel line in the engine room. The tanker is currently berthed in Volkswerft Hall 290, where it can be repaired regardless of the weather. Strela Shiprepair is currently leasing the hall from the city of Stralsund since the Norwegian company Fosen filed for insolvency.
