Gibdock Gives a Makeover to Saga Ruby

Saga Cruises has highlighted Gibraltar’s continuing attractions for cruise owners, returning to Gibdock for repair and maintenance work on one of the ‘grand old ladies’ of the cruise industry, the 24,492grt, 670-passenger capacity Saga Ruby.

Delivered by Swan Hunter in 1972 to Norwegian American Line as Vistafjord, the ship is the last cruise vessel built on the Tyne. Having previously docked Spirit of Adventure in 2011 for the same owner, the 13-day renewal Saga Ruby drydocking project required flexibility on the part of the yard, which was called upon to adapt its original repair plan to take account of additional works.

The original project demanded an extensive scope of work in a demanding time frame.

Emerging work included repairs to items of hull damage, a wing tank, boiler supports, bulkheads in the tailshaft tunnel and sewage tanks. Six engine room coolers also had to be removed, cleaned and reinstalled and a new alternator fitted.

Two new sewage treatment units were fitted during Saga Ruby’s drydocking. This required cutting a 2.4m x 2m access window in the side shell, and once again an extensive internal area had to be cleared and pipes disconnected.

Despite the additional work, Saga Ruby left the yard’s No. 1 dock on schedule on January 25th.

[mappress]
Press Release, February 14, 2014