“Jens Leon” transformed

The Faroese stern trawler “Jens Leon” FD 830, recently returned home from Peterhead Maintenance Hall totally transformed after a 10 day tie up which involved new encasement of fish handling area steelworks, aqua blasting and mechanical preparations of corroded areas inboard, on hull, internal water tanks and new polyurea.

The work was carried out by Scottish coating company Peter Bruce Ships Painters, now in its 38th year of trading.

On “Jens Leon”, new technology was used for an elastomeric bonded encasement application to the steelwork inside the fish handling area. This leaves a 3-5mm rubbery/plastic surface which is flexible and pliable. The long lasting coating yields with any surface movements. The steel surface can no longer come into contact with oxygen and water, which in turn eradicates corrosion. The application is easily cleaned, and also exceeds all health and hygiene requirements.

As well as “Jens Leon”, the “Thomas Nygaard” and “Jogvan Nordi” had similar work carried out last summer, where vessels up to a length of 65m can be catered for.

Over the years, Peter Bruce has gained qualifications at the Institute of Corrosion and his employees have undergone specialised training for encasement coatings which has been successfully applied over wooden linings in the fish holds of various Scottish vessels. Prior to application in fish rooms, they also carry out injection of insulation behind linings which ultimately improves catch quality.

The owners of “Jens Leon” are very impressed with the properties of the new treatment, and are happy with the high standard of work carried out to their vessel, as well as the 900t capacity Ship Hall which ensured no weather interruptions while berthed inside the Hall, which was heated when required. Peter Bruce also co-ordinated other maintenance and modernisation work by using local specialists, engineering, welding, electrical, carpentry etc.

“We have had a busy start to the year, with a team just returning from Rotterdam following shotblasting and painting of an oil dive vessel. We are currently working on various fishing vessels and oil and gas contracts.

I have recently spoken to a few different Faroese vessel owners who are interested in coming to Scotland to have painting and re-fit works this year.

Due to the past de-commissioning of the Scottish fleet, we really appreciate the effort our Faroese customers make coming down here, where we can guarantee them honesty, hard work, high standards and good value for money.”

Peter Bruce Ships Painters will be exhibiting at the North Atlantic Fish Fair, 3-5 May 2007