Page 61: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2006)

April 2006 61

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Hydrex was called recently to repair a crack at the port of Rotterdam on a former Russian navy vessel and ice class ship, a vessel which is currently used for transportation - a 262 m barge carrier. After consulta- tion with the ABS surveyor, an external inspection was done on the area of the crack - on the starboard side of the vessel. The crack was on the landing bar (a con- necting plate between the bilge keel and the hull) and was easily visible. However, after checking the loca- tion of the known crack, Hydrex's diver inspected the remainder of the bilge keel on both the starboard and port sides and found what looked like a two hairline cracks on the port side. To confirm the visual finding, ultrasonic testing was done from the inside of the ves- sel. While inconclusive, it gave indications that there was a problem. It was therefore decided to do another underwater check using 'eddy current' testing, which showed there were two additional cracks to be repaired before the vessel could continue on its schedule. The exact location of the two cracks was determined by fur- ther testing from inside the hull. Mobdocks were then put in place on the hull over the cracked areas. On the starboard side the 200mm crack was visible from with- in the hull and there were no obstructions blocking access to the work area. The repair here was straight- forward. However, on the port side, structural frame- work blocked access to both cracks and so this had to be cut away in order for the repair work to be started.

As there was no visible damage to the internal hull surface, the area was ground out at the places already marked and determined by the ultrasonic testing. In fact, it was found that the two cracks of 200mm and 150mm had penetrated only around 5mm of the 20mm hull plating. Hydrex's standard and approved tech- niques for permanent repair were then executed and then tested by ultrasonic and MPI methods to satisfac- tion of ABS surveyor.

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Inspection Reveals Series of Cracks

Preparing the area for welding.

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