Hydrex propeller blade modifications

(Posted on 21/07/19)

Recently teams of Hydrex diver/technicians performed propeller blade modifications on several bulk carriers and tankers. In Singapore, Cẩm Phả and Amsterdam cropping was the only option for the damaged blades while in Rotterdam the bent areas on a bulk carrier’s propeller blades could be straightened.

The four blades of a 190-meter bulk carrier’s propeller were severely bent. An on-site solution was needed to restore the propeller’s balance and efficiency. A team was therefore mobilized to Cẩm Phả, Vietnam to bring the damaged blades back as close as possible to their original condition.

After the equipment arrived at the vessel’s location the team started the operation with a detailed survey of the affected propeller blades. The inspection revealed that the four blades were bent over angles of 90 to almost 180 degrees.

The team then used the information acquired during the inspection to calculate and determine the exact measurements needed to modify the trailing edges of the propeller blades.

Next the divers cropped the blades and ground their edges to give them the correct radius. When the cropping was complete, they polished the blades to make sure that any remaining loss of efficiency would be minimal.

In Singapore only two of the four blades of a 183-meter tanker needed to be cropped using this technique. The other two propeller blades had suffered small cracks and dents along their trailing edges. Because the damage to these blades was limited, cropping was not required. The divers grinded away the cracks and polished the edges of the blades to prevent further cracking.

A 220-meter tanker in Amsterdam had lost the tip of one of its propeller blades. The opposite blade had not been damaged, but it was also cropped to keep the propeller’s balance.

Four of the five blades of a 182-meter bulk carrier had small bent areas on the tip and trailing edge. These were straightened one by one during the ship’s stop in Rotterdam.

As the other vessels in this article, the bulk carrier could continue its schedule without going off-hire to drydock and with the performance of the propeller restored.

Latest News

ASL sees continued surge in demand for Cape Size carriers

The surge in demand for Cape Size bulk carriers will continue for another six weeks, driven on by increased... Read more

Partnership to enhance compliance and emissions management

OrbitMI, a leading provider of maritime SaaS software, has announced that Istanbul-based Statu Shipping... Read more

INTERCARGO statement on loss of seafarers in Odesa bulker attack

“The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) is deeply saddened by the... Read more

DNV white paper on adoption of ammonia and hydrogen fuels

As the shipping industry continues its transition to carbon-neutral fuels, ammonia and hydrogen are... Read more

Enclosed space survey aims to understand why seafarers are still dying

Ship managers and maritime professionals have joined forces to address concerns over the continuing... Read more

Algoma takes delivery of three vessels in a week including final Equinox

Algoma Central Corporation has achieved a significant milestone, taking delivery of three new ships,... Read more

Asyad Shipping successfully lists on Muscat Stock Exchange

Asyad Shipping Company SAOG, one of the world’s largest diversified maritime providers and a global... Read more

Maritime framework in focus as Jamaica develops its maritime services

As Jamaica continues to develop its maritime sector, expanding its shipping services, growing its bunkering... Read more

Record-breaking year in safety for ESL Shipping

ESL Shipping, the leading carrier of dry bulk cargoes in the Baltic region, has achieved remarkable... Read more

DNV report to help shipowners select energy-efficiency measures

With increasing regulatory pressure and rising fuel costs, the shipping industry must accelerate decarbonization... Read more