Menawethan now resembles a ship, with all hull blocks now in the building dock.

On 21st January, the “mega block” comprising units 1, 2, 6 and 7 (the main engine room, keel block and aft part of the upper cargo hold) was lifted from the dockside and successfully integrated with the fore part of the hull.

With the complete hull now in place, only four blocks remain to be added – unit 11, which includes the wheelhouse, passenger lounge and crew accommodation, and is currently under construction in the fabrication shop; unit 12, the engine casing, which is ready and waiting on the dockside; unit 13, the forward bulwark, which is under construction; and unit 14, the cargo elevator upper casing, which is complete and ready for integration.

As well as the hull structure fabrication a huge amount of system piping (ballast, bilge, fuel oil, scuppers, lub oil and fresh water) have been fabricated and installed within the hull blocks.