The MV Driftwood has just come out of dry dock after a 2-week stay at Allied Shipyards in North Vancouver. Transport Canada requires that all passenger vessels come out of the water every 4 years for inspection. The shipyard removes the rudder and stock, the propeller and tail shaft and all of the through-hull valves for service and inspection. The shaft is checked on a lathe for true, the bearings are serviced and everything is cleaned and lubricated. The hull itself gets a thorough examination by a shipwright to replace traditional oakum caulking between the planks. They service and replace protective gumwood cover boards and apply a special anti-fouling paint to the entire underwater hull to prevent growth of algae and barnacles.
Wooden vessels of this size are an increasingly rare sight on the coast and the Driftwood attracted a fair bit of attention while in dry dock. Thankfully back in 1944 she was well built to Canadian Navy standards at Star Shipyards in New Westminster. The hull is sound and tight and is an impressive sight from below. The hull above the waterline was scraped, filled, sanded and painted – a huge job that’s really only feasible during a haul out.
Photo gallery of the Driftwood in dry dock
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With only 5 weeks until she sets sail for Haida Gwaii and another season at QCL, we’re sprucing up the interior and getting her all set up to host our guests on the fishing grounds. Captain Ryan, Trevor, Sparky and crew are looking forward to welcoming you aboard!