Last month a Hydrex diver-technician team performed a crack repair on the pintle area of the rudder of a 181 meter tanker and performed a detailed inspection of the stern tube seal assembly of the vessel while it was berthed in Ghent. Following this inspection the team replaced the worn seals and installed a spacer ring, thus creating a new running area for the seals.

Prior to the operation the vessel was trimmed as much as possible. The Hydrex team then build a scaffolding around the rudder pintle and the stern tube seal assembly. Next they removed the rope guard and the damaged areas of the outer plating of the rudder. This allowed them to perform an inspection of the stern tube seal assembly and start the repair in the rudder.
 
While the team prepared a first insert plate on shore, the inspection of the seal assembly revealed that the seals were worn and needed replacement. Next they installed the first insert and secured it while the second plate was prepared. Simultaneously another part of the team opened the stern tube seal assembly and it became clear that they needed to renew the running area of the seals as well. The team did this by installing a new spacer ring on the stern tube flange after which they replaced and bonded the three seals.
 
By this time the second insert on the rudder had also been fitted and welded according to the approved procedures. Independent ultrasonic testing confirmed that the insert repair was successful. The only thing the team needed to do to conclude the rudder repair was grinding away a small crack located on the other side of the rudder. By then the rest of the team had closed the stern tube seal assembly and an oil test had been performed, verifying the seal repair had been carried out with satisfactory results.
 
Hydrex performed all operations under DNV requirements which were verified by an attending surveyor. The diver-technician team rotated in shifts to finish both repairs in the shortest possible time and avoid any unnecessary delays for the vessel.
 
If you would like to learn more about the Hydrex repair services, visit our website or contact one of our offices:

Headquarters
Hydrex Belgium - Antwerp
Phone: +32 3 213 53 00
Fax: +32 3 213 53 21
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