The work included manufacturing and installing a ducktail, tank top repairs and changes to some of the tanks' functionality, propeller repair and polishing, and blasting and painting of the underwater hull.
One of the key considerations for the vessel’s owners, according to Seaspan, was ensuring the chosen shipyard had an excellent reputation and understood the care and consideration needed to work on this luxury expedition ship.
Silver Explorer arrived for the docking in mid-September and the work was completed Oct. 11—on time and on budget, according to Seaspan. The ship was back in the ocean the same day.
The company worked with local suppliers and other partners selected by Silversea to oversee the refit. Some 125 contractors were involved.
'Exciting projects like this enable Seaspan to create and sustain highly skilled, middle-class jobs here in our community of North Vancouver,' said Paul Hebson, VP and general manager of Vancouver Drydock.
Through the two yards, Seaspan employs approximately 2,000 workers dedicated to vessel construction, repair and conversion of varying size and complexity.
Silver Explorer was Silversea's first expedition ship in 2008, when it was introduced as Prince Albert II. It is scheduled to operate the company's first Northeast Passage voyage in August 2019.