Stone Marine Shipcares report high demand for large propeller repair equipment.
The company recently transported its workshop to the Oman Dry Dock Company where it was joined by a four man propeller service teams to carry out extensive repairs to the damaged propeller of a large oil tanker.
With the propeller in a workshop the team quickly got to work measuring the bend damage and preparing the propeller for straightening and re-tipping. Due to the extreme nature of the bend straightening was performed in several stages over a two day period. Once completed the propeller was made ready for the new cast tip sections to be welded into place; these had been transported to Oman inside the workshop. Accurate positioning was achieved using a propeller measuring arm and the tips were locked into position using strongbacks.
Once welding was completed a full heat treatment cycle was carried out on all tip sections using electrically controlled heating pads and the repaired areas were then ground to the correct blade profiles and their thickness and pitch checked.
Finally, the propeller was placed onto a horizontal balancing machine and minor balance corrections carried out, followed by a full propeller super polish.
All the repair work was completed in ten days and the mobile workshop carried all of the specialist equipment required to carry it out. Stone Marine Shipcare were given very positive feedback from Synergy Maritime Ltd Superintendent Mr Deepak Ranganathan who commented, “A very impressive and efficient team who carried out the planned repair in a professional manner and to the best satisfaction of all stake holders”