If a ship is at sea for an extended period of time, it will eventually require repairs. These can range from minor tweaks to major overhauls, and in some cases, replacements. Ships typically return to a dock for service and maintenance, which is performed by skilled mechanics or repair personnel for major repairs.
In some cases, ships may be too far from land to return to a port for repairs, so the repairs must be carried out at sea. Several standard maintenance processes can also be performed at the ship’s location. As a result, it is preferable to have skilled labor, equipment, and spare parts on hand to carry out any necessary repairs.
Here’s a rundown of the various repairs that are frequently required at sea.
Features
Marine Repair services deliver major or emergency ship repair and refurbishment services to a specific location, whether in port or on the move. They also provide high-quality repair services for tugs, fishing vessels, barges, and specialized work boats with limited repair budgets and needs.
Marine Repair services include a wide range of services, such as:
- structural repair
- machinery repair
- welding
- shaft seal replacement
- diesel engine repair
- hydrostatic testing
- tube renewal
- piping hydro test
- pump repair
- tank re-coating
- valve repair
- mast-to-boot top
- epoxy paint
- electrical system repair
- ultra high pressure blasting
- cargo hold cleaning
- non destructive testing
- off-shore repair
- fiberglass boat repair
- inboard and outboard motor repair
- all emergency repairs as well
Voyage and small vessel marine repair services specialize in providing a skilled workforce that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can mobilize quickly to the location.
Marine Repair services have trucks that are fully equipped with portable welding equipment and a complete set of tools. There are also work boats, mobile cranes, and water cranes available. Some marine repair services provide services locally while also being a part of a global network of companies.
Experts in all marine disciplines are employed by marine repair services, including machinery, structural steel, piping, electrical, blasting, rigging, and coating. Many marine repair services have sufficient experience in resolving a wide range of marine repair issues, from small tugs and barges to large supertankers.
Furthermore, all marine repair services are performed in accordance with all major international classification societies’ certification standards. Employee and customer safety, environmental protection, employee training and advancement opportunities, and customer satisfaction are top priorities in all marine repair services work.
Electrical And Mechanical Repairs
Most seagoing vessels these days are outfitted with highly sophisticated electronic equipment that is critical to the ship’s normal operation. When something goes wrong with the electrical circuitry, it must be repaired immediately because virtually all electronics on board are considered essential equipment.
There are numerous mechanical repairs that may be required, including repairs to rotors, propellers, and virtually any mechanical part that moves during normal operation.
These can include any radar systems on board as well as sensitive radio equipment that must be maintained. In addition, most ships have extensive hydraulic, piping, and electrical steering systems, boarding and marine gangways, mechanical cranes, boiler shells, vessel boilers, and generator systems, all of which can fail at any time.
Out at sea, nearly all of these mechanical devices are critical to keeping the ship afloat and performing its assigned function, so prompt and effective repairs are essential.
Marine Engine Repairs
Given engines are so important to ship operation, marine engine repairs warrant their own category. Every ship will have an engineer on board who can perform routine maintenance and inspect engine components to ensure nothing goes wrong. However, some breakdowns are unavoidable and cannot be repaired by the ship’s engineer. There are organizations that provide expert service and parts replacement in situations like these.
Metal locking, metal stitching, lining honing, and piston reconditioning are examples of such situations. Marine engine repair can be related to either its electrical or mechanical systems, which means that any repairs performed at sea may necessitate the services of experts from either or both of these fields.
Any team performing engine repair work at sea will be outfitted with sophisticated diagnostic equipment and will have all potential replacement parts on hand. You can imagine what a seagoing vessel would be like without its engines to propel it, so engine repair is one of the most important services that can be performed at sea.
Emergency Response Teams
Since virtually all repairs performed at sea are critical to ship operation, an entire industry has sprung up along coastal locations to provide emergency response teams that can spring into action quickly to effect needed repairs.
Individuals on these teams have extensive experience dealing with crane issues, pump and rotating equipment repairs, hydraulic issues, electrical problems, piping problems, and any other type of mechanical issue.
Many seagoing ships have working relationships with such emergency response teams, which are activated when problems arise. The ability of emergency response teams to get to a ship’s position quickly and make effective repairs is what makes them so valuable.
Without them, many seagoing vessels would have to sacrifice functionality at sea or return to port to complete necessary repairs.
