Bulker propeller repair avoids costly drydocking
(Posted on 02/11/20)
Hydrex has performed a propeller blade cropping on a 180-meter bulker berthed in Ghent. The tip of two of the four propeller blades was severely damaged and needed to be cropped to restore the propeller’s efficiency. The trailing edge of the other blades had suffered cracks that needed to be repaired.
Having developed different procedures for different kinds of damage, Hydrex teams are equipped and trained to make the best out of a bent or broken propeller. Ideally, the in-house developed cold straightening technique is used. This procedure enables us to straighten damaged blades in-water, allowing commercial operations to continue without the need to drydock.
In the following example cropping was the only option as the type of damage to the propeller blade did not allow cold straightening. In cases like this, where there is an even number of blades an identical piece will be cropped from the opposite blade to restore the hydrodynamic balance of the propeller. By doing so, the best possible efficiency is obtained.
Two of the four blades of the bulker had lost part of their tip. An on-site solution was needed to restore the propeller’s balance and efficiency. A team was therefore mobilized from the Hydrex headquarters in Antwerp to the ship’s location in Ghent.
After the equipment arrived at the vessel the team started the operation with a detailed survey of the propeller blades. They used the information acquired during the inspection to calculate and determine the correct measurements needed to modify the propeller blades. The first blade was then cropped and ground to give it the correct radius. The opposing blade was modified using the exact same cutting line, to give the propeller back its balance.
When the cropping was complete, small cracks were grinded out of the trailing edges of the other blades. This was done to make sure that any remaining loss of efficiency would be minimal.
Over 45 years of experience with propeller repairs have given Hydrex the tools and know-how to offer fast repair and modification services to vessels. All types of operations can be carried out fast and efficiently afloat and underwater.
In this case the repair took less than a day. This prevented any unwelcome delay to the vessel’s schedule.
Latest News
BAR Technologies appoints Panmarine to support Greece and Cyprus growth
(Posted on 29/05/26)BAR Technologies has appointed Panmarine & Industrial Services Ltd. as its commercial consultant... Read more
ClassNK releases Guidelines for 3D Model-Based Approval
(Posted on 29/05/26)ClassNK has released the “Guidelines for 3D Model-Based Approval (3DMBA)”, which summarizes... Read more
IRS awards Type Approval Certification to GRSE for Marine Hull and Line Valves
(Posted on 29/05/26)Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) is pleased to announce the handover of Type Approval Certificate to... Read more
Superior’s Patriot Cone Crushers gain more horsepower options
(Posted on 29/05/26)Superior Industries, Inc., a US-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing and... Read more
Partnership creates secure digital backbone for maritime cyber security
(Posted on 25/05/26)A strategic partnership signed between Cydome and Rakuten Maritime aims to provide shipping companies... Read more
Liebherr opens Digital Solutions Campus in Hamburg during TOC Europe
(Posted on 25/05/26)At TOC Europe, Liebherr presented a comprehensive maritime portfolio combining digital tools and its... Read more
ESL Shipping and QMill explore quantum computing for complex shipping decisions
(Posted on 22/05/26)Leading carrier of dry bulk cargoes in the Baltic region, ESL Shipping, has launched a multi-year research... Read more
Third electric LPS 550 strengthens PD Ports bulk handling capability
(Posted on 14/05/26)An LPS 550 fitted with an electric drive has been delivered to Middlesbrough from Liebherr’s Baltic... Read more
‘Smart ships’ failing to turn data into real intelligence, warns SmartSea
(Posted on 13/05/26)The maritime industry’s push towards “smart shipping” is falling short, with many... Read more
Steelpaint completes trial coating on Mur shipping bulker
(Posted on 11/05/26)Steelpaint GmbH, the German manufacturer of high-performance single-component moisture cure polyurethane... Read more
