- Diver/technicians replaced the seals of both stern tube assemblies of a pipe laying vessel berthed in Rotterdam.
- Using a Hydrex flexible mobdock they were able to carry out the entire operation on-site.
- A successful operation was concluded with leakage tests, the removal of the flexible mobdock and the reinstallation of the rope guard.
Diver/technicians replaced the seals of both stern tube assemblies of a pipe laying vessel berthed in Rotterdam. Using a Hydrex flexible mobdock they were able to carry out the entire operation on-site and underwater, saving the owner an expensive and time-consuming trip to drydock, says an article published on hydrex website.
Repair of Double stern tube seal
A team traveled to the vessel’s location on one of our workboats. These workboats are fully equipped as dive support stations with hydraulic cranes, winches, nautical and communication equipment, and a dive control room.
They are stationed in Rotterdam and Antwerp which allows for a fast mobilization throughout both ports.
Once the operation was confirmed all preparations were handled swiftly and the lightweight equipment was mobilized. The operation then started with the removal of the rope guard and a thorough underwater inspection of the first stern tube seal assembly.
After the inspection the divers cleaned the assembly and installed the flexible mobdock. By doing this they created a dry underwater environment so that they could work in drydock-like conditions.
The split ring was then removed and brought to the surface to be cleaned. After cleaning the entire assembly, the divers removed the first seal and replaced it with a new one which was bonded. They then did the same for the other seals.
A successful operation was concluded with leakage tests, the removal of the flexible mobdock and the reinstallation of the rope guard. The procedure was repeated to remove the seals of the second stern tube assembly.
Conclusion
Working together with the OEM allowed Hydrex to provide the customer with original spare parts which guarantees the best quality material. A technician of the seal manufacturer was also present during the operation.
By organizing everything from start to finish the owner did not have to worry about making any arrangements for the repair. After the seals had been successfully replaced he could sail his vessel to its next stop free of oil leaks.
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Source: hydrex
