Page 35: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 2003)

Evac Environmental Solutions offers a range of marine both physical chemical and the IMO Marpol Annex IV • The Evac ORCA is USCGI

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Repair & Conversion

Team UMC Helps Navy Ship With Innovative VSP Switcl

UMC International Pic recently supported the British

Ministry of Defense (MoD) to successfully complete the afloat replacement of a 7.5-ton Voith Schneider

Propulsor (VSP) unit, while the Royal Navy ship was operating over 3,000 miles from its UK base port. The

VSP waterborne exchange is, reported by the MoD, to be a premiere culmination of efforts by UMC, on behalf of the MoD, to establish comprehensive water- borne maintenance support for the VSP. The VSP now joins the growing list of ship equipments that UMC can inspect, maintain and repair, afloat without the need to dry dock. UMC has designed and developed the sys- tem to replace VSP units in conjunction with the Mine

Countermeasures Vessels Integrated Project Team

VSP Seat with unit removed and cofferdam in place. (MCMVIPT) of the MoD's Warship Support Agency.

The MCMV IPT identified that not all "Ports of Call" had the facilities or resources to change a Voith-

Schneider Propulsion (VSP) unit should a breakdown occur. The development process began with UMC being tasked to undertake a study, which confirmed that it was feasible to design and build a cofferdam to replace VSP units afloat that could be airlifted any- where in the world. This was followed by a contract to design, manufacture and supply a portable cofferdam system along with procedures for installation removal and maintenance. The cofferdam, lifting frame (to sit on the deck above the propeller room) and dockside support frame (to hold the VSP once removed from the ship) were promptly delivered to Portsmouth Naval

Dockyard for a trial. During the trial, all elements of the replacement procedures were proven, and on com- pletion of the trial the system was declared fully oper- ational. Almost immediately it was called into service and flown overseas to a Royal Navy forward support unit, which had been deployed to support a Royal

Navy task force. Shortly after the equipment had been deployed a warship reported a requirement to exchange one of its VSP units. The options were to remain on task and run the risk of the VSP unit failing, a costly and time consuming departure away from its operating area to find a suitable dry-dock or to use the cofferdam

October 2003

Circle 247 on Reader Service Card

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Circle 243 on Reader Service Card 33 team set to work. The following Monday afternoon, the

VSP unit had been replaced and the ship was ready for its basin trial, at which time the ship sailed with a fully serviceable VSP unit.

For Voith Schneider, Circle 31 on Reader Service Card

For UMC, Circle 32 on Reader Service Card system provided by UMC. It was decided that the cost- effective option was to use the cofferdam, as to avoid the immediate risks of continued use of the VSP.

Having been given the go ahead, preparations for the replacement task began on a Friday morning with a combined UMC, MoD, RN and Vosper Thornycroft

Smart Strain Gauge

Level Sensor with

Generic 4-20mA Output

This Royal Navy ship was operating more than 3,000 miles from its U.K. base port when it underwent repairs by UMC.