Early spring refurbishment of FFS boats

Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

"We cover most professional disciplines within industrial and craftsman trades here at the workshop. Our staff includes everyone from industrial mechanics and welders to carpenters and plumbers. Therefore, we do all the renovation work onboard the boats with our own people," says workshop manager Ronny Christoffersen.

The sun is shining from a cloudless sky. There are still a few days left before February turns into March. But the spring air is unmistakable.

AND IT SHOWS in the mood of the guys at the workshop in Lundevågen. For they love boat maintenance in nice weather!

"It's fun with a bit of different tasks," says Kjetil Juliussen, who, along with Isak Lyngsvåg Andreassen, is busy installing new drainage pipes on FFS Aton - a newly purchased boat with four cranes onboard.

"I am trained as both a plumber and an industrial mechanic, so such tasks are perfect for me," says Juliussen.

FFS ATON is a self-propelled barge vessel that can be operated in extremely shallow water. The boat is ideal for laying cables in narrow fjords, but can be used for many other purposes.

When purchased, it had a residential module on board. This has now been dismantled and made mobile, so that it can be used on land, on FFS Aton or on any of the FFS barges.

- As a result of the fact that we removed the housing module, some work has to be done on board, says Christoffersen.

A FEW METERS further away on the FFS quay is located FFS Amon moored. Here, two men are working to remove rust from the tyre. The boat will soon have a new wooden deck.

The old faucet must also be replaced. FFS Amon is used extensively in archipelago service, but also plays an important role in the bollard pull operations.

It is also used as a support vessel in connection with dredging missions and diving jobs.

RIGHT NEXT TO THE PAGE of FFS Amon lies FFS Atlas. Here, too, renovations are underway. The rubber fender in the bow of the towboat has been removed. Now the fasteners for the new fender are welded.

- In addition, we are doing a lot of internal work. Two toilets with a laundry room are to be completely renovated. We also plan to refurbish the five cabins on board, says Christoffersen.

FFS Atlas is the oldest towboat the company has. It is 30.3 meters long and 13.46 meters wide, and is used both for towing and harbor anchoring.