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’ vessel. Manannan is a 96 metre long boat and is able to carry 850 passengers and 200 vehicles, and it’s main route will be between Douglas and Liverpool. Ben-My-Chree is a conventional ferry, carrying 666 passengers and 275 vehicles. It will travel between Heysham and the Isle of Man, also venturing 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.”
