hydrex magazine 269 hydrex magazine 269€¦ · vital for tanker in algeciras 4-6 iso 9001...

M a g a z i n e Number 269

No drydock available - Underwater stern tube seal repair vital for tanker in Algeciras . . . . . . . . . . . 445 years of paving the way in underwater technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Looking back on Hydrex’ rich history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Hydrex magazine 269_Hydrex magazine 269.qxd 3/06/19 08:53

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Underwater scrubber sea chest installation

Our wide range of mainte-nance and repair services

includes the installation of addi-tional sea chests required for theintakes and outlets of scrubbersystems. These afloat installationsare performed by installing a cof-ferdam on the hull.

We can help you when going todrydock is not an option, if thescrubber equipment is not availableyet during docking or if the scrub-ber system needs to be installedbefore the next scheduled docking.We are able to carry out the instal-lation of sea chests while your ves-

sel stays afloat and in most casesduring cargo operations.

If you would like to discuss thispossibility of in-water scrubbersystem installation, please contactus at +32 3 213 53 00 [email protected]

Phone: + 32 3 213 5300 (24/7)Fax: + 32 3 213 5321 [email protected]

www.hydrex.be


To receive a free copy, e-mail to:[email protected]

Welcome to this special an-niversary issue. I founded

Hydrex 45 years ago. Since thattime the company has consider-ably expanded both its size and the services it offers. I am proud tosay that we have grown into one ofthe market leaders in our field.

Throughout our history we havebeen at the forefront of technolo-gical developments in our field ofexpertise. We always found moreand better ways to deal with main-tenance, repairs and replacementsunderwater. Quality of work andservice has always been our guide-line. We do this because our cust-omers deserve the best possiblesolution when they are faced with aproblem.

During these last 45 years we haveshown that this is what our teamsprovide during every single opera-tion.

We will be here for many moreyears to come and will continue toinvest in the research required tokeep evolving the techniques avail-able to our divers.

Hydrex founderBoud Van [email protected]

Editorial Table of contents

Underwater stern tube seal repairvital for tanker in Algeciras 4-6

ISO 9001 certifiedUnderwater services and technology approved by:

3

Looking back on Hydrex’ rich history 10-15

45 years of paving the way in underwater technology 8-9


The operation began with a thoroughunderwater inspection of the sterntube seal assembly. This revealedthat a rope had gotten entangledaround the assembly. Our diversremoved the rope but unfortunatelyit had already damaged the seals andcaused an oil leak.

The team then removed the ropeguard and installed the flexible mob-dock. This allowed them to work indry conditions.

During the operation our diversremoved the three damaged sealsand replaced them with new ones.Working together with the OEMallowed us to provide our custom-er with original spare parts which

Last month one of our teamscarried out an underwater

stern tube seal repair on a tankerberthed in Algeciras. The ship was suffering from an oil leak andno drydock was available close by.Our men replaced the damagedseals underwater using one of ourflexible mobdocks. This saved the owner an expensive and time-consuming trip to a drydock fur-ther away.

Once the operation was ordered allpreparations were handled swiftlyand the lightweight equipment wasmobilized almost immediately. Ourteam was on-site and ready to startthe seal replacement when the vesselarrived in Algeciras.

Fishing net entangled around the seal assembly.

No drydock availableUnderwater stern tube seal repair

vital for tanker in Algeciras

Hydrex diver taking the plunge, ready for underwater operation.

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Closed up assembly after replacement of the seals. Hydrex diver reinstalling the rope guard.

Dry working environment around assembly created with our flexible mobdock.

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guarantees the best quality material.A technician of the seal manufactu-rer was also present during the ope-ration.

Stay on schedule and out ofdrydock

Our team was able to carry out theentire repair on-site and underwaterwith our flexible mobdock techni-que. Because all the required mate-rial is ready to be transported at alltimes, no time was lost making preparations.

We organized everything from startto finish for the owner. He did nothave to worry about making anyarrangements for the repair. Afterthe seals had been successfullyreplaced, he could sail his vessel toher next stop free of oil leaks.

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Hydrex van during underwater operation in Algeciras.

The same high quality, close to home or faraway

We have developed a flexible mobdock repair method that enables theunderwater replacement of all types and sizes of shaft seals. It allows shipowners to keep their vessels sailing, saving precious time and money.

Damaged stern tube seals will cause oil leaks or an ingress of water. By

replacing the seals as soon as possible we can keep the down time low.

Because seal repairs can be performed during cargo operations the ship can

keep her schedule.

It is not always straightforward to replace seals. There can be quite a bit of variation in the size of the stern tube itself and for instance the liners canbe worn down and show ruts. However, all this is routinely handled by ourexperienced teams.

All our offices are equipped with the latest facilities, lightweight equipmentand tools. This allowed for a timely arrival of our team in Algeciras with everything they needed to successfully complete the job.


In-water bow thruster repairs

The Hydrex lightweight flexiblemobdocks are designed to be

easily transported around theworld and are used to close off thethruster tunnel on both sides,allowing divers to perform re-pairs and other operations in adry environment around the bowthruster unit.

This technique enables them to reinstall the propeller blades of anoverhauled thruster inside thethruster tunnel after the unit hasbeen secured or replace the bladesor seals and perform repair work ona specific part without removing theunit.

Since the development of this flexi-ble mobdock technique, numerous

thruster repairs have been carriedout by Hydrex diver/techniciansaround the world.

There is no need to send the vessel to drydock as all operationscan be carried out in port or whilethe vessel is stationary at sea.Normal commercial activities cantherefore continue without disrup-tion.

Phone: + 32 3 213 5300 (24/7)Fax: + 32 3 213 5321 [email protected]

www.hydrex.be

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8

HyBelgi

1970

1995

2000

20102005

2001Hydrex opens new fast response center

in Antwerp with state-of-the-art logistics, tools and diving support

equipment

1Ihr

1992Class approvals for

permanent crack repairs

2009Hydrex Spain opened in Algeciras

Hydrex develops the rudder mobdock technology for permanent underwater

rudder repairs

2009Hydrex wins Lloyd’s List Sand Conversion Award at L2009 Global Awards

2002First dry underwater thruster

operations with flexible sheets

Lloyd’s List SMM Award for Innovation in Naval Shipbuilding

and Marine Technology

2006First dry underwater seal repair inside flexible mobdock

2008Hydrex LLC in Tampa Bay opened e

199925 years of service and experience

1996First use of large steel cofferdams for thruster change-out and repair

Hydrex divers replace face seal underwater on ro/ro vessel

First ultra large insert repairs carried out on offshore vessels

2002Propeller cold-straightening machine introduced

45 years of paving the way inHydrex magazine 269_Hydrex magazine 269.qxd 3/06/19 08:54

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1974Hydrex founded in Antwerp,

Belgium, by Boud Van Rompay

1975

1980

1990

2010 2015 2020

1979First permanent underwater repair with prefabricated cofferdam - m/v Lunar Venture

1976First large wet welded

repairs on ship hulls

1978First large underwater wet welded bulbous bow repair

1977First wet welded rudder repairs

1983First insert repair in double bottom tank

1984First underwater propeller cutting and modification jobs carried out with in-house developed tools and equipment

1991Introduction of large habitat system for civil repairs

2r s

2009ydrex wins Lloyd’s List Ship Repair

nd Conversion Award at Lloyd’s List 009 Global Awards

ed

2012First full underwater section (5 x 5 x 2 meter) inserted and wet welded in a ship hull

2013Hydrex develops propeller habitat to

enable any needed underwater propeller inspection and repair to be carried out

“in the dry”

2014Hydrex develops propeller buffing as a means of cleaning and restoring propellers to mirror-like finish

Hydrex delivers underwater propeller cone fin installation for improving fuel efficiency of propellers

2017Development of new method for quick repair of bow thruster gearbox.

2018Introduction of method for faster seal renewals.

2019Conclusion of large

expansion of Hydrex headquarters. This

includes new offices, meeting rooms and

workshops.

1985

1983New office and first fast response center opened

ay in underwater technologyHydrex magazine 269_Hydrex magazine 269.qxd 3/06/19 08:54

The operation was to be donein Algeciras, Spain. However,

the first question was whetherdoing such an operation, to changethe thrusters “in the wet”, not indry dock, was routine or not. Weconfirmed that it certainly was not “routine” to change and/orcarry out maintenance work onthrusters in this way, becauseevery ship is different and re-quires different specifications for the equipment that is neededfor the work. However, we wereable to confirm that we had al-ready performed similar opera-tions on a number of other vessels

This year marks the 45th anni-versary of Hydrex. To cele-

brate this, we will be looking backat some of the many key opera-tions we performed since the com-pany was founded in 1974. We willdo this by republishing one or twoarticles from the vault of theHydrex Magazine each month.

For our first trip down history wewill be revisiting two very differentoperations, both carried out on drillships.

In 2004 we were contacted by theNorwegian owner of a large vesselthat had recently broken all therecords on drilling and was sched-uled to start on a new, long term pro-ject. The owners wanted to overhaul

the vessel’s two bow thrusters be-fore starting the contract. The articlebelow deals with the meticulousplanning of this complex operation.During the weeks before the thrusterexchange our technical departmentworked closely together with all parties involved to make sure thatthe job could be carried out to thehighest possible safety and qualitystandards.

In 2015 we provided a fast solutionthat prevented a damaged transitflap from swinging dangerously andcausing further damage to the aftbulkhead and ballast tank of a vesselabout to start a contract in GrandIsles, Gulf of Mexico.

Who better suited for these jobs than

a company that even in 2004 hadover 30 years of experience in find-ing underwater solutions?

The article below was first published in March 2004.

Looking back on Hydrex’ rich history

Major thruster exchange operationcarried out on large drill ship

The drilling vessel.

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themselves, in-situ. However, as we

approached the installation date a

number of coordination meetings

were required with all parties invol-

ved and it was decided that Hydrex

should not only install the mobdocks

but also take care of the internal

operations of removing the thrusters

and then, once reconditioned or

new ones were obtained, we would

also reinstall the new overhauled

thrusters. This had to be done on two

different thruster tunnels.

Because this work was being done

on an offshore unit, the procedures

for the job to be done and their safe-

ty aspects need to be worked out in

detail, in advance, before any opera-

tion could start. It took one week of

and we were confident that wewould be able to do the job.

We entered into negotiations and

worked out the detailed require-

ments necessary to be able to pull

off the operation. New mobdock

adapters had to be constructed and

the main chamber and access trunk

needed to be modified to fit the

shape and size of the vessel and

thruster tunnel.

The initial order we received was to

deliver and install the mobdock

system allowing the thruster manu-

facturers to overhaul the thrusters

Equipment leaving the Hydrex warehouse.

Work continued throughout the night.

Placement of secondary mobdock.

Connecting entry shaft to the mobdock.


owners and other representatives.

We were also able to provide the

workforce on a shift schedule and

carry out the work 24 hours a day,

7 days a week over a 6 week period.

For this there were two supervisors

of the project, one overall in charge

and operating during the day and a

second supervisor taking the night

shift.

All the mobdock adaption construc-

tions and operations were witnessed

by Germanischer Lloyd.

The specifications for mobdock

adapters were worked out and orde-

red to be constructed in Spain.

Meanwhile, existing equipment was

transported from our storage at our

Antwerp headquarters in Belgium

through to Algeciras. Once all the

equipment had been brought toge-

ther and the detailed planning agreed

upon, our diving and engineering

teams were flown in and they started

the job of putting together the mob-

dock into place underwater against

the ends of the thruster tunnels.

meetings on board with all the par-

ties involved to agree on the scope

and assignment of the projects to be

done. With this change in assign-

ment, a lot more procedures were

diverted to Hydrex because of our

expertise in the area. This in turn

required more detailed planning on

our part which was fully approved

by Germanischer Lloyd.

The location of the vessel was also

initially planned to be on anchorage

but a location was found alongside

the berth which reduced the amount

of problems that would be created

by potential bad weather and exten-

ded communication time between

ship and shore.

From an operational perspective we

provided a project engineer, respon-

sible for all communication and coo-

peration between our project, the

captain and ship’s superintendent

and other members of the vessel,

Mobdock being lowered to seal off thruster tunnel.

Final stages of placing the entry shaft.

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The transit flap of a 225-meterdrill ship came loose and star-

ted swinging dangerously. Thiscaused damage in the aft bulk-head and a leak in the ballast tanksituated behind the moonpoolhull. The vessel was located inTrinidad but was about to start a contract in Grand Isles, Gulf of Mexico. A fast solution was needed to prevent further damageand allow the ship to arrive inGrand Isles on time.

Hydrex mobilized a team of diver/technicians to Trinidad. After aninspection of the damage, they dis-connected the transit flap. It was

then lowered and towed away. InTrinidad the divers also took all themeasurements needed to design arepair plan for the second phase.Because of the instable condition of the flap, it was essential to keep to the highest safety standards, espe-cially during this first part of theoperation.

The drill ship then sailed to the Gulfof Mexico. The limited time framedid not allow for a permanent repairto be carried out at that point, so atemporary solution was proposedand accepted.

The vessel once again met up with a

Damage to the moonpool hull of drill ship, caused by loose transit flap.

Hull repair on drill ship in Gulf of Mexico

Three of the doubler plates used tocover the damaged areas.

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Hydrex team. All the equipment wasput on board the vessel before it sailed on to Grand Isles to start itscontract.

This part of the operation consistedof the installation of five doublerplates over the damaged areas in theaft bulkhead. Constructed with theexact measurements taken during adetailed inspection, they were posi-tioned and secured underwater byour certified diver/welders. All waterwas then emptied from the damagedballast tank. The crew of the drillship performed an inspection of thetank and confirmed that the com-promised hull was once again fullysealed. According to one of the crewmembers “the team did a fantasticjob and the final welds amazed everyone on how clean they turnedout.” Diver inspecting one of the doubler plates.

One of the doubler plates being positioned and secured.

Hydrex diver/welder during operation in the Gulf ofMexico.

Hydrex divers getting ready for underwater operation ondrill ship.

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Hydrex can offer its customers thehigh quality of service they deservewhile guaranteeing the safety of thedivers at all times. Our diver/tech-nicians are trained and qualified toperform all required repair proce-dures in even the harshest condi-tions.

Thanks to the installation of the doubler plates the ship could safelystart its contract. A permanent so-lution can now be planned at a moreconvenient time.

Weld seams of doubler plates installed over damaged hull areas.

Hydrex team leader supervising the operation insidemonitoring station.

Welding one of the doubler plates.

If you have received this magazine at the

wrong address or if yourcompany is going to

move, please let us know.

You can contact us at:

[email protected] at

+ 32 3 213 53 00

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Always on time

Hydrex offers turnkey un-derwater repair solutions

to shipowners wherever and whenever they are needed.Hydrex’s multidisciplinary teamwill help you find the best solu-tion for any problem encoun-tered with your ship below thewater line. We will immediatelymobilize our diver/technicians

to carry out necessary repairwork without the need to dry-dock.

Hydrex performs complex perma-nent underwater repairs to thrust-ers, propellers, rudders, stern tubeseals and damaged or corrodedhulls. By creating drydock-likeconditions around the affected area

we can carry out these operationsin port or at anchor.

All the projects we undertake areengineered and carried out in closecooperation with the customer andany third party suppliers, relievingthe customer of all the hassle ofcoordination, planning and super-vision.

www.hydrex.be

Headquarters Hydrex N.V. - AntwerpPhone: + 32 3 213 5300 (24/7)E-mail: [email protected]

Hydrex Spain - AlgecirasPhone: + 34 956 675 049 (24/7)E-mail: [email protected]

Hydrex LLC - Tampa, U.S.A.Phone: + 1 727 443 3900 (24/7)E-mail: [email protected]

Hydrex RotterdamPhone: +31 10 313 25 19 (24/7)E-mail: [email protected]


hydrex magazine 269 hydrex magazine 269€¦ · vital for tanker in algeciras 4-6 iso 9001...

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