Survitec’s new lay-up service
(Posted on 28/08/20)
Survitec has introduced a new service aimed at ensuring CO2 low pressure (LP) firefighting systems are correctly deactivated when ships enter lay-up.
The turn-key CO2 LP lay-up service, developed in collaboration with a leading European-based shipowner, was introduced two-months-ago following market demand for a solution capable of simplifying decommissioning and recommissioning procedures.
Survitec has already seen an upswing in demand for the service following a surge in the number of ships temporarily suspending services and deactivating ships due to the lack of trade
Claude Sada, Chief Operating Officer, Survitec, said: “Due to the pandemic and the on-going economic uncertainty, we are seeing ro-ro vessels, VLCCs, and large bulk carriers and containerships heading for lay-up, with owners looking to ensure their CO2 systems are deactivated correctly and safely.”
A CO2 LP system, typically used in a vessel’s fixed-fire extinguishing arrangement, can only be decommissioned and recommissioned by a specially trained service provider once the Classification Society has granted approval for the system to be deactivated and the tank emptied.
Survitec has Z17 approvals as service suppliers – from various classification societies allowing the company to service maintain a vessel’s multi-branded fire-extinguishing systems, including CO2 LP systems.
Steven Puis, Survitec Training Manager, Technical Support, said that while cold lay-up procedures are similar to the processes carried out during the periodical service or refilling of the CO2 system, there are subtle differences.
“In addition to stringent ventilation, gas detection and personnel safety requirements, cooling compressors need to be prepared prior to tank emptying. Once the compressors are safe, the tank must be emptied through the liquid filling line instead of the gas/vapor return line to avoid a rapid drop in pressure and the CO2 turning into a solid block of ice.
“When the tank has been emptied of its liquid content and pressure is maintained at about 10 bar, it avoids the need for any hydro and pressure testing, internal tank cleaning and purging when the system is reactivated. There is no risk of damage caused by humidity or water accumulating inside the tank.”
Jan-Oskar Lid, Survitec’s Global Technical Sales Manager – Fire, Rescue & Safety, furthered: “The CO2 LP system must be emptied prior to lay-up since the ship’s generators will be shut down and unable to provide any power to shipboard compressors and refrigeration units.
“Based on the Survitec deactivation procedures the tank doesn’t have to be opened, inspected, internally cleaned and purged before refilling and reactivation,” he says.
“The safest and most cost-effective way to carry out this work is to move the vessel by tug to a quayside. However, refilling of the CO2 tank at anchorage is possible with good planning and special arrangements, such as a barge, etc.” he says.
With traditional lay-up spots, such as Scotland and Norway, becoming congested with new destinations emerging, Survitec is providing its customers with a list of locations where service engineers with CO2 LP system capability are available. A minimum of two service engineers can be deployed on a case-by-case basis.
Survitec is currently creating CO2 LP cold lay-up and reactivation procedures for ten vessels in a prominent ro-ro and PCTC fleet.
Latest News
80 years of innovation and growth celebrated at Martin Engineering
(Posted on 01/10/24)A world leader in bulk handling solutions, Martin Engineering, is marking 80 years of product innovation... Read more
OTG unlocks data insights with the launch of new dashboards
(Posted on 01/10/24)Ocean Technologies Group (OTG), the global leader in maritime human capital management solutions and... Read more
DNV approval for Hanwha Ocean's rotor sail technology
(Posted on 25/09/24)DNV has awarded Hanwha Ocean Type Approval Design Certification (TADC) for its innovative rotor sail... Read more
Alfa Laval secures major order for BWMS replacements
(Posted on 19/09/24)Alfa Laval has received an order to replace 18 ballast water treatment systems (BWMS) onboard vessels... Read more
Maritime industry faces growing pressure for data transparency
(Posted on 19/09/24)Charterers and insurers are demanding more transparency in vessel operations, yet many maritime companies... Read more
OLG announces partnership with maritime superapp platform FrontM
(Posted on 19/09/24)Digital training specialists OneLearn Global (OLG) has announced a new partnership with FrontM in a... Read more
New Fuel Insights platform reduces bunker quality risk
(Posted on 12/09/24)NorthStandard has launched ‘Fuel Insights’ - an exclusive real-time marine fuel intelligence... Read more
Kaiko Systems unveils KAI, a comprehensive maritime AI agent
(Posted on 12/09/24)Kaiko Systems is set to revolutionise vessel health management and operations with the launch of KAI... Read more
SMT selected to consult and advise on ammonia awareness training
(Posted on 12/09/24)Ammonia is fast becoming a potential alternative fuel for the future of green shipping but new fuels... Read more
T-BOSS shaft solution for sterntubeless ship unveiled
(Posted on 08/09/24)Representing a breakthrough in the evolution of a ship’s propeller shaft line, Canada’s... Read more
