The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology

Ship repairs at the double

(Posted on 16/04/18)

A range of hull repairs on a variety of ship types have illustrated the diversity of shell plating operations Hydrex diver/technicians are capable of undertaking at a moment’s notice.

In Amsterdam, recently, Hydrex responded to an emergency call from a ship’s crew, requesting a permanent repair to a crack in the port side grey water tank of their 145m chemical tanker.

To get the job done during the ship’s port stay, Hydrex immediately fabricated a 700mm x 300mm insert plate, as well as a steel mobdock (mobile drydock) profiled to fit the curvature of the tanker's hull. The mobdock was installed, enabling the diver/technicians to cut away the cracked area and weld the insert plate in place, using Hydrex's class-approved full penetration welding technique. All of this work was carried out during the tanker's scheduled stop, and in close communication with the superintendent of the vessel and the attending class surveyor. The permanent nature of the repair meant that no further action would be required at the ship's next drydocking.

Meanwhile, after a fully-loaded 180m bulk carrier was faced with a near two-week delay when a repair to grounding damage in Las Palmas, Spain, proved unsuccessful, Hydrex was called in to take over the repair work. The Antwerp-headquartered company had been chosen because the classification society was confident that Hydrex would be able to perform a satisfactory underwater repair and get the bulker sailing again as soon as possible.

The Hydrex team was on site rapidly, the first step of the operation being the removal of the cofferdam that had been installed during the previous repair attempt. Then, working in shifts, Hydrex diver/technicians installed two doubler plates over the affected areas of the flat bottom. The vessel was soon able to resume her voyage, much to the satisfaction of the owner and port authority.