Member Article

Yuken Europe drives maritime sector growth with ferry operator contracts

Merseyside hydraulic technology and manufacturing firm Yuken Europe is driving growth in the maritime sector after securing repeat servicing works with ferry operator the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Yuken, which is based on Speke Hall Industrial Estate in Liverpool, is working on the company’s ‘Manannan’ fast boat and ‘Ben-My-Chree’ vessels.

The 96-metre ‘Mannanan’, which underwent a major refit in 2009, is the latest addition to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s fleet. It is a wave piercing catamaran and the largest vessel of its kind in the Irish Sea, able to carry 850 passengers and crew and 200 vehicles. Its main route is between Douglas and Liverpool.

The ‘Ben-My-Chee’ is a conventional ferry with cabins. It was built in 1998 and is 125.2 metres in length and can carry 666 passengers and crew and 275 vehicles. Its main route is between Heysham and the Isle of Man but also runs a route to Birkenhead during the winter.

Japanese-owned Yuken designs and manufactures a broad range of high quality, durable hydraulic equipment including pumps and valves.

Its hydraulic technology is used across many different sectors and applications, playing a crucial role in the manufacturing process helping to generate, control and transmit power.

Service manager Pete Ledson said Yuken is working on vital servicing work on the two vessels including cleaning out hydraulic systems which help to steer the boats.

“We are flushing out debris from the Manannan’s hydraulic systems which are used to control the vessels movement,” he said.

“The boats work by propelling water via jets at the back which dictate the direction of the vessel. All of this is done through a hydraulic system which requires regular maintenance.

“Without our servicing and maintenance work, these systems would be prone to malfunction and cease to function efficiently.

“In addition, we continue to carry out work on the Ben-My-Chree as a rolling yearly contract maintaining its pipework and general servicing issues.”

Project manager Dave Broom said the projects showcased the variety of work which Yuken carries out.

“Yuken Europe is known as a manufacturer of hydraulic components and we carry out many design projects on a bespoke basis. However, we also do a lot of maintenance and servicing work on both our own systems and those installed by others,” he said.

“Recently, we have been recruited on behalf of aerospace manufacturing giant Bombardier to work on an industrial press at its base in Northern Ireland and we have also spent thousands installing a testing system for energy efficient servo valves at our headquarters in Speke.

“These projects demonstrate the breadth of skill and expertise Yuken can offer.”

Frank O’Neill, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s technical manager, said: “Keeping these critical hydraulic systems maintained to the highest order is essential to the continued reliability and effectiveness of both Manannan and Ben-My-Chree.

“By working with companies like Yuken Europe, it enables us to run efficient and reliable services between the Isle of Man and the mainland and maintain our reputation as a first-class passenger ferry company.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .