Restoring propeller blades keeps bulker on schedule
(Posted on 08/01/22)
When damage to propellers occured due to impact with ice and other debris, Hydrex has helped bulk shipowners, even if the damage is quite extensive.
By taking advantage of the Hydrex in-house developed cold straightening technique, damaged blades can be straightened underwater, allowing the ship to return to commercial operations without the need to drydock.
If straightening is not an option, the affected area of the blade will be cropped. This is done to achieve the greatest possible efficiency. Cropping is carried out using our propeller blade cutting equipment.
For example, one of the propeller blades of a 180-meter bulker was severely bent. A fast, on-site solution to restore the propeller’s balance and efficiency was needed. Hydrex therefore sent a team to the ship’s location in Rotterdam with one of company’s workboats.
After the equipment arrived the team started the operation with a detailed survey of the ship’s propeller. This revealed that one of the other three propeller blades was also bent slightly. It was decided to straighten this blade as well.
With the survey completed and in close communication with the team leader in the monitoring station onshore, the divers returned the bent blade to its original state. When the straightening was complete, the Hydrex technicians polished the blade to make sure that any remaining loss of efficiency would be minimal. The same procedure was then repeated on the other damaged blade.
The conditions for a similar repair in Tornio, Finland were a lot less warm. All 4 blades of a 144-meter general cargo ship were bent. Hydrex mobilized a team to straighten the blades using the same procedure as on the vessel in Rotterdam. They traveled through the snowy landscapes with two vans and the needed equipment to the ship’s location.
During the operation the divers had to work in water filled with chunks of ice, but these conditions offered no problem for them. They are used to adapt to different circumstances and carried out the repair without any loss of quality.
The four blades of a 229-meter bulker’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 the ship’s location in Dunkirk, France, to modify the damaged blades.
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 up to 90 degrees.
The team then used the information acquired during the inspection to calculate and determine the correct 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, the Hydrex technicians polished the blades to make sure that any remaining loss of efficiency would be minimal.
The bulker could continue its schedule without going offhire to drydock and with the performance of its propellers restored.
Latest News
Port of Blyth orders Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 MHC
(Posted on 20/01/22)The UK Port of Blyth, a leading offshore energy support base and important hub for the movement of a... Read more
Growing orders for Alfa Laval FCM LPG fuel supply systems
(Posted on 20/01/22)As the marine industry focuses on decarbonization, Alfa Laval is experiencing increased demand for solutions... Read more
OneOcean launches first Environmental Planner as part of Voyage Planning
(Posted on 15/01/22)OneOcean Group has expanded its platform capability to include a new and unique Environmental Planner... Read more
Hanseaticsoft and Solitwork enter digital reporting partnership
(Posted on 15/01/22)Hanseaticsoft and Solitwork have announced a strategic partnership. The mission is to jointly improve... Read more
Noatum increases MHC fleet for three Spanish terminals
(Posted on 08/01/22)After obtaining the approval of the respective boards of directors and its partner Algeposa, Noatum,... Read more
AXSMarine releases emissions calculator for the Dry Bulk industry
(Posted on 20/12/21)AXSMarine, a pioneer and market leader in the provision of advanced solutions for shipping professionals... Read more
ABB’s propulsion factory in Shanghai marks 10-years
(Posted on 20/12/21)ABB’s Azipod electric propulsion, introduced 30 years ago, has revolutionized the marine transport... Read more
Progress in Cargotec and Konecranes merger
(Posted on 13/12/21)Cargotec and Konecranes have continued active dialogue and cooperation with relevant competition authorities... Read more
ABS grants Alfa Laval AIP for firing boilers with methanol
(Posted on 13/12/21)Maritime classification society the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted Alfa Laval the first... Read more
Acciaierie d'Italia orders four Liebherr LPS 800s
(Posted on 07/12/21)The leading steel manufacturer in Italy, Acciaierie d'Italia has signed a contract with Liebherr for... Read more
