In an alarming report, Hydrex Underwater Technology has registered an increase in the number of vessels experiencing propeller damage.
Dave Bleyenberg, Hydrex Production Executive, said: “While winter months usually result in an increase in propeller repairs, this normally occurs between January and March. But we have already attended a number of vessel inspections on propeller blades broken or damaged by ice or debris.”
In November, a Hydrex team was called out to Taranto, Italy to inspect a 27,500 DWT general cargo ship, whose engineers had reported excessive vibration from its five-blade, 5m diameter propeller as the vessel returned from operations. The cause of the vibration was due to two bent propeller blades.
No sooner had the propeller been repaired, the dive team and cold straightener were deployed to Toga, West Africa to carry out a similar operation to a tanker, whose propeller was vibrating due to a bent blade.
“We often encounter blades that have been severely damaged, chipped or completely broken off during ice navigation. In most instances, they can still be repaired in-situ by grinding and cropping the blades,” said Mr. Bleyenberg.
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Source: Hydrex Underwater Technology
