FV Ocean Dawn Dry-dock - Port Lyttleton

Over the final three months of 2025, our Marine Painting Division, under the expert direction of foreman James Flowers, successfully completed the full dry-docking and refit of the Sealord fishing vessel FV Ocean Dawn in the historic dry dock at Lyttelton Port Company. This was a major undertaking that showcased the dedication, skill and teamwork of our crew; a true marathon effort that rejuvenated the vessel inside and out.

Our team delivered a comprehensive overhaul covering:
-Full rust remediation and recoating of decks and exterior superstructure.
-Internal factory and meal-plant areas, including processing spaces which demanded both precision and cleanliness.
-Cleaning and recoating inside multiple confined-space tanks and compartments.
-Additional post-engineering and maintenance preparation, cleaning and coating jobs throughout the vessel carried out to set specifications.

Carrying out such a full-scale refit while the vessel was in dry-dock allows access to all areas, above and below the waterline. This made possible a level of maintenance and coating work that can’t be done while afloat. Thanks to modern marine-grade coatings (epoxy, polyurethane and anti-corrosive systems), our work ensures better protection against corrosion, improved vessel longevity and reduced maintenance burdens for years to come.

Completing a 3-month job of this scale demanded a lot of our team: tight scheduling, rigorous surface preparation, comprehensive and aesthetically pleasing coatings systems, safe and compliant confined-space operations, and fast yet accurate problem-solving. These are standard expectations in dry-dock work, which often involves tight timelines and minimal downtime.