Preparing for a return to Docklands waters

By Sean Car

After a turbulent year for Docklands heritage and charter boat operators, historic tall ship Enterprize has returned to the slipway at Appleton Dock for routine maintenance ahead of a full return to service in 2021.

More than a year-a-half since the ship last made its way to the slipway, its general manager Michael Womack said the maintenance works were the first sign of things slowly returning to normal for the boat’s staff and crew.

With the pandemic putting a halt to all training and sailing programs, Mr Womack said many crew members were now looking forward to returning to the waters this side of Christmas, with an eye to a full return by March.

In the meantime, the ship’s crew and workers from F J Darley Shiprights Williamstown were busy in late November carrying out important safety works with the boat elevated out of water at the slipway.

“While we’re at the slipway we’ll have our year three out of water inspection done by our ship’s surveyors,” Mr Womack said. “That’s a requirement by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.”

“The work that is going on is inspecting parts of the hull and replacing oakum in caulking of the vessel so that makes it nice and watertight and a section of ship will be done every time it comes out of water. They’re doing the port side this side because that’s a side that is closest to where we moor along North Wharf.”

“We haven’t sailed since the third week in March so it’s been a long time for the crew and for the ship to have not been actively operating and working. The crew of course have missed out on the experience. Some crew only signed up two days before the lockdown in March so they’ll be keen to get back into their training.”