New azimuth repairs by MarineShaft

The offshore support vessel Thor Omega experienced a sealing issue on one of its azimuth thrusters. During inspection by the maker, Kongsberg, while the vessel was in dry dock in Spain, a non-planar surface on the thruster flange was identified as cause for seawater ingress.  The measured flange deformation was 7.1mm.
Due to a tight docking schedule, the repair was postponed and later carried out afloat by MarineShaft service engineers whilst the vessel was alongside in Skagen, Denmark.

Afloat azimuth repair

The azimuth repair plan was to machine the flange within Kongsberg’s approved tolerances, ensuring correct flatness while removing as little material as possible. In addition, the O-ring groove was re-machined to restore the correct depth relative to the flange surface. The thruster flange had a diameter of 2,580mm.
MarineShaft utilised its portable milling equipment to carry out an afloat azimuth repair, thus avoiding another docking.
MarineShaft’s portable surface milling equipment can machine surfaces up to 6,000mm in diameter, enabling on-site repair of large flanges, crane foundations and similar components where precise alignment and flatness are critical.
A laser alignment of the electric motor was performed following the thruster reinstallation.

Read more like this in the latest issue of DryDock magazine

MarineShaft utilised its portable milling equipment to carry out an afloat repair, thus avoiding another docking