China: CIC Changxing Shipyard Completes Repair Works for MV Ostsee Merchant

M/V Ostsee Merchant is a Panamax bulk carrier with the main dimensions of 213*32*16m. The main problem for the vessel was the oil leakage of the tail shaft aft. seal, which required a out-of-dock renewal of the seal.

For such a hard and unconventional job, the shipyard’s engineering personnel considered what the owners’ thought and decided to fulfill this project on the premise of guaranteeing the safety after a careful research.

In order to reserve a space for the repair and hanging staging, the tail shaft seal needed to be situated above the water up to a sufficient height of 0.8m. The ship’s owner also tried their best to cooperate with the yard to meet the requirement and discussed the plan of water ballasting several time, including water ballasting in No.1 cargo hold. While, limited by the ship type, the final height above the water was only 0.6m. Apart from the 0.3m for the wave, there was only 0.3m left for working.

Early on the morning of December 3rd, the engineering department called in the dry-docking workshop manager, coating workshop manager, security department manager and the foremen to discuss on the site about the staging erection method and safety precautions regarding the out-of-dock work and pollution prevention. At six o’clock of that afternoon, the working staging was welded, which ensured the project would start on time. It would take almost 12 hours to complete the renewal of the seal. To guarantee the on time sailing, the yard immediately started welding of the rope guard, cutting the working stage and other tail-in works once the seal was renewed. The strong wind, wave & cold weather brought great inconvenience to the said repair. In order to ensure the schedule and safety, the SRM, workshop managers and foremen watched on site all the time till the midnight.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, December 18, 2011;