Recently we mobilized our diver/technician teams to vessels in the Netherlands and Australia to carry out stern tube seal replacements. In Flushing the repair was carried out on a 200-meter car carrier, and in Port Burnie, Tasmania, on a 188-meter roro vessel.

Both ships were leaking oil, making an on-site repair necessary. Using a Hydrex flexible mobdock we were able to carry out these operations on-site and underwater, saving the owners an expensive and time-consuming trip to drydock.

Remote location no problem for Hydrex

Despite the remote location of the ro-ro vessel, our technical department was able to make all practical logistic arrangements and organize a mobilization of the equipment very swiftly. In the recent past we have carried out several operations in Australia, including repairs on this ro-ro ship’s sister vessel.

After arriving on-site, the diving team first set up a monitoring station next to the vessel. The operation then started with a thorough underwater inspection of the stern tube seal assembly.

Next the divers cleaned the assembly and installed the flexible mobdock, thereby creating a dry underwater environment so that they could work in drydock-like conditions.

The split ring was then disconnected 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 then bonded. This was done in cooperation with the supervising OEM technician. The procedure was repeated with the other three seals.

A successful operation was concluded with leakage tests, the removal of the flexible mobdock and the reinstallation of the rope guard.

Easy mobilization to Flushing with dedicated workboat

A team traveled from Antwerp to the ro-ro car carrier’s Netherlands 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 Antwerp and Rotterdam and can be used for a wide range of operations in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and France.

With Hydrex 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 was able to sail his vessel to its next stop free of oil leaks.

We help keep ships afloat, operational and in business

We offer maintenance services and repairs on all parts of the underwater ship’s propulsion systems and the hull. Operations are class approved and carried out at lay-by berths or alongside the dock while commercial activities continue. All this is done with qualified and experienced diver/technicians, state-of-the-art equipment, and advanced techniques.