Abels Shipbuilders
Encyclopedia
Abels Shipbuilders Ltd is a ship and boat builder in Bristol
, England. They are now the largest remaining shipbuilder in Bristol.
who went out of business in 1977. The site includes the large covered dry dock
originally built by Hilhouse
in 1820, and has a capacity of 350 tonnes.
The company builds a wide variety of vessels up to 250 tonnes and 25 m (82 ft) in length in steel
and aluminium
, typically tugs
, passenger and Roll-on/roll-off ferries, survey vessel
s, launches
and work boats. Around 80% of orders are for UK customers although recently the company delivered aluminium patrol and ambulance boats to Nigeria. The company also built Pero's Bridge
(the horned foot bridge) which opened in 1999. Recent and current work includes a 180 tonne, 250 passenger catamaran
for Clyde
Marine and the rebuild of the Medway Queen for the Medway Queen Preservation Society.
boat off the Isle of Mull
. Several further ferry orders followed including the 29 metres (95.1 ft) Roll-on/roll-off ferry Eynhallow for Orkney Ferries
in 1987, and the 19 metres (62.3 ft) Maid of the Forth for the Forth River
in 1989. In 2001 Abels secured a contract to build a twin deck ferry
for the Portsmouth Harbour
Ferry Company. Shortly afterwards the company was awarded a follow-on contract for a second ferry. The first ship, Spirit of Gosport was delivered successfully, but the second, Spirit of Portsmouth was only partially constructed when the customer cancelled the order.
The latest ferry built is the Clyde Clipper for Clyde
Marine and delivered in July 2009. She is a 125grt catamaran
or 28 m (91.9 ft) length and 11 m (36.1 ft) beam and able to carry up to 250 passengers. Powered is supplied by two Doosan diesel engines and the vessel has a speed of around 12 knots (6.5 m/s)
s for the UK Environment Agency
. Vigilance was the first of four similar vessels and delivered by David Abels for work in the Bristol Channel
in 1990. The follow on ships constructed were the Sea Vigil based on the South Coast, Coastal Guardian
for the Mersey
and Water Guardian, based on the North East Coast, but spent some time in the Bristol Channel while Plymouth University chartered the Vigilance. Ranging from 42 to 71 tonnes, and 15.8 to 16.5 m (51.8 to 54.1 ft) in length, they are 10 knots (5.4 m/s) ships operated by the Agency's National Marine Service. Their complement includes scientist
s and each are fitted for survey activities such as taking seabed samples, trawling
and water sampling as methods to monitor the area's coastline, including use of Meteorological sea surface temperature equipment on a tow fish when required.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. They are now the largest remaining shipbuilder in Bristol.
Business
Founded in 1980 by David Abels, the company took over part of the Albion Dockyard formerly occupied by Charles Hill & SonsCharles Hill & Sons
Charles Hill & Sons was a major shipbuilder based in Bristol, England, during the 19th and 20th centuries. Established in 1845, they specialised mainly in merchant and commercial ships, but also undertook the build of warships and governmental vessels especially during the First and Second World...
who went out of business in 1977. The site includes the large covered dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
originally built by Hilhouse
Hilhouse
Hilhouse was a shipbuilder in Bristol, England who built merchantman and men-of-war during the 18th and 19th centuries...
in 1820, and has a capacity of 350 tonnes.
The company builds a wide variety of vessels up to 250 tonnes and 25 m (82 ft) in length in steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
and aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, typically tugs
TUGS
TUGS is a British children's television series, first broadcast in 1988. It was created by the producers of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Robert D. Cardona and David Mitton. The series dealt with the adventures of two anthropomorphized tugboat fleets, the Star Fleet and the Z-Stacks, who...
, passenger and Roll-on/roll-off ferries, survey vessel
Survey vessel
A survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for mapping. It is a type of research vessel.-Role:The task of survey vessels is to map the bottom, benthic zone, full water column, and surface for the purpose of:* hydrography* general oceanography...
s, launches
Launch (boat)
A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding...
and work boats. Around 80% of orders are for UK customers although recently the company delivered aluminium patrol and ambulance boats to Nigeria. The company also built Pero's Bridge
Pero's Bridge
Pero's Bridge is a pedestrian, bascule bridge at St Augustine's Reach in Bristol Harbour. It links Queen Square and Millennium Square.- Structure :...
(the horned foot bridge) which opened in 1999. Recent and current work includes a 180 tonne, 250 passenger catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
for Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
Marine and the rebuild of the Medway Queen for the Medway Queen Preservation Society.
Ferries
The company has been building ferries since at least 1985, when the 60 passenger Island Princess was delivered to Scottish owners, and she still operates as a whale watchingWhale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
boat off the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
. Several further ferry orders followed including the 29 metres (95.1 ft) Roll-on/roll-off ferry Eynhallow for Orkney Ferries
Orkney Ferries
Orkney Ferries is a company operating inter-island ferry services in Orkney, to the north of mainland Scotland.-History:The company is owned by the Orkney Islands Council and was established in 1960 as the Orkney Islands Shipping Company....
in 1987, and the 19 metres (62.3 ft) Maid of the Forth for the Forth River
Forth River
The Forth River is a river in northern Tasmania, Australia.The lower part of the river features Lake Barrington, which is a major venue for competitve rowing. It is also the location of the village of Forth....
in 1989. In 2001 Abels secured a contract to build a twin deck ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
for the Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
Ferry Company. Shortly afterwards the company was awarded a follow-on contract for a second ferry. The first ship, Spirit of Gosport was delivered successfully, but the second, Spirit of Portsmouth was only partially constructed when the customer cancelled the order.
The latest ferry built is the Clyde Clipper for Clyde
Clyde
-Places named Clyde:In Scotland:* River Clyde* Firth of ClydeIn Australia:* Clyde, New South Wales* Clyde, Victoria* Clyde River, New South WalesIn Canada:* Clyde, Prince Edward Island* Clyde, Quebec* Clyde, Ontario* Clyde, Alberta...
Marine and delivered in July 2009. She is a 125grt catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
or 28 m (91.9 ft) length and 11 m (36.1 ft) beam and able to carry up to 250 passengers. Powered is supplied by two Doosan diesel engines and the vessel has a speed of around 12 knots (6.5 m/s)
Survey Vessels
In the lates 1980s, Abels began to construct a series of survey vesselSurvey vessel
A survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for mapping. It is a type of research vessel.-Role:The task of survey vessels is to map the bottom, benthic zone, full water column, and surface for the purpose of:* hydrography* general oceanography...
s for the UK Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
. Vigilance was the first of four similar vessels and delivered by David Abels for work in the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
in 1990. The follow on ships constructed were the Sea Vigil based on the South Coast, Coastal Guardian
RV Coastal Guardian
RV Coastal Guardian is a survey vessel which is owned and operated by the Environment Agency. Her work takes her around the UK, most notably the West Coast.-History:...
for the Mersey
Mersey
Mersey may refer to:* River Mersey, in northwest England* Mersea Island, off the coast of Essex in England * Mersey River in the Australian state* Electoral division of Mersey in the state of Tasmania, Australian...
and Water Guardian, based on the North East Coast, but spent some time in the Bristol Channel while Plymouth University chartered the Vigilance. Ranging from 42 to 71 tonnes, and 15.8 to 16.5 m (51.8 to 54.1 ft) in length, they are 10 knots (5.4 m/s) ships operated by the Agency's National Marine Service. Their complement includes scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s and each are fitted for survey activities such as taking seabed samples, trawling
Trawling
Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats. The net that is used for trawling is called a trawl....
and water sampling as methods to monitor the area's coastline, including use of Meteorological sea surface temperature equipment on a tow fish when required.
Vessels built by Abels Shipbuilders
Vessels built by Abels Shipbuilders in Bristol include:- Maria McLoughlin (1981). 500 hp steel tugTugTuğ is a village in the Khojavend Rayon of Azerbaijan....
. - Sarah McLoughlin (1981). 500 hp steel tug.
- Island Princess (1985). 50 ft (15.2 m) 60 seat passenger ferry.
- EynhallowOrkney FerriesOrkney Ferries is a company operating inter-island ferry services in Orkney, to the north of mainland Scotland.-History:The company is owned by the Orkney Islands Council and was established in 1960 as the Orkney Islands Shipping Company....
(1987). 104 grt Ro-Ro vehicle and passenger ferry. - Surta (1988). 42 ft (12.8 m) steam passenger vessel.
- Vigilance (1989). 42 t environmental survey vesselSurvey vesselA survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for mapping. It is a type of research vessel.-Role:The task of survey vessels is to map the bottom, benthic zone, full water column, and surface for the purpose of:* hydrography* general oceanography...
. - Maid of the Forth (1989). 70gt 225 seat passenger ferry.
- Sea Vigil (1991). 55 t survey vessel.
- Avon Monarch (1991). 75 seat passenger vessel.
- Coastal GuardianRV Coastal GuardianRV Coastal Guardian is a survey vessel which is owned and operated by the Environment Agency. Her work takes her around the UK, most notably the West Coast.-History:...
(1992). 74 t survey vessel. - Water Guardian (1992). 51 t survey vessel.
- Sir William Pulteney (1993). 85 seat passenger ferry.
- ImpulsePort of London AuthorityThe Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
(1994). 52 grt steel pusher tug. - Georgina (1995). 80.1 ft (24.4 m) motor boat.
- The Georgian (1995). 93.5 ft (28.5 m) motor boat.
- Lenie (1997). 121 grt multi-purpose tug.
- PAD.42 to PAD.51 (1999). 7.62 m (25 ft), 35 knots (19.1 m/s) aluminium-hulled Nigerian police launches.
- Spirit of Gosport (2001). 250 t passenger ferry.
- Beauchamp (2001). 80 ft (24.4 m) floating classroom vessel.
- Spirit of Portsmouth (2002). 250 t passenger ferry (unfinished).
- Faoilean (2002). 58 t fish farmingFish farmingFish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
vessel. - Corrine Marin (2004). Floating café and restaurantFloating restaurantA floating restaurant is a kind of vessel which is usually a type of steel barge used as a restaurant on water. For example, the Jumbo Palace at Aberdeen in Hong Kong is one such restaurant. Sometimes retired ships are given a second lease on life as floating restaurants. The former car ferry New...
for Arbi'n'Tap Ltd. - Leanne McLoughlin (2005). Line running vessel.
- Noleen McLoughlin (2005). Line running vessel.
- Clay Barge No 8 (2005). 39.5 ft (12 m) motor bargeBargeA barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
. - Clyde Clipper (2009). 125 grt catamaran ferry.
- Seagreen (2010). 304 gt Work vessel for the French transport & utility company Veolia.
- Medway Queen (2010). Rebuild of the 180 ft (54.9 m) ironIronIron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
paddle steamerPaddle steamerA paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
.