Ship Recycling Project Management – Intro

The Wayfarer was a motor fishing vessel which operated out of Newlyn Harbour that was built in 1959 approx. Sadly she has fell in to disrepair and Southwest Environmental Limited were commissioned as project managers for the environmentally compliant removal of the Wayfarer from Newlyn Harbour. This image courtesy of Simon Chapman, taken in 1999.

The actual removal of the vessel started after an incredible 18 months work of paper work most of which was generated as a requirement of an environmentally (legally) compliant removal. It is important to point out that although it would have been easier to break up the boat with an excavator, or sink her to create a reef, neither would have been legal.

Having previously managed the removal of the The Children’s Friend, we made a start on what was going to be a challenging project.

Ship Recycling Project Management – Process

The site team headed up by an experienced shipwright started work on the boat in situe, she was leaning heavily against the quay, and we needed to move the boat up to the landward end of the pier. In order to achieve this the the boat was lightened as far as practical with the winch gear being removed, and a good portion of the wheel house.

As we found her.

Removal of the heavier items.

After the heavier deck items had been removed we prepared to move up the boat to the land ward end of the quay. The boat was re-floated and pulled along to her final resting place. Having been neglected for close to a decade the boat had lots of leaks and the re floating took a number of tides before success was achieved.

Waste segregation took place on the qaut side, and as you would expect from a company call Southwest Environmental, the Environmental Compliance Side of of the project was given much attention. This included the generation of significant quantities of  paper work relating to duty of care.

Finally after weeks of preparation, stripping out internal structures, engines etc. the hull was ready to be cut in to sections.

Nearly Ready to cut in to Sections

The stern is cut free.

Once 1 or 2 section had been cut from the hull, arrangements were made to lift the sections from the harbour. At this point we could only guess at how much the sections would weigh, as they are very odd shapes it is hard to tell, and we did have a bit of a surprise when we found that some weighed 20 tons.

Crane ready to lift.

Ship sections on low loader.

Her final voyage!

This boat unlike the Children’s Friend  is not destined for landfill. The sections will be transported to Exeter Fabrications for compliant treatment and conversion in to ornamental structures. Give them a ring and buy a piece of maritime history.

Environmental Consultants