The Chronicles of the SubSea Solutions Alliance
Training and Certification by Equipment Manufacturers
The member companies of the Subsea Solutions Alliance continually develop their work force through in-house as well as training provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturers. By maintaining a dedicated FULLY EMPLOYED work force, training records are maintained and development plans for personnel are in place.
Employees receive on average between 60 and 80 hours of equipment repair specific or ship repair specific training PER YEAR. Trained and certified personnel for different types of equipment and repairs are maintained in order to meet specific equipment repair and vessel repair requirements throughout the world. This year project manager training, underwater welding courses, underwater welding certification tests and propulsion equipment training has been performed with all levels of the Subsea Solutions Alliance staff. The equipment courses are tailored to the diver / technicians and are developed by the original equipment manufacturers so that our personnel are familiar with the maintenance and repair of Thrusters, Propellers, Seals, Rudders and all other underwater propulsion equipment. By understanding the specific repair techniques and systems in place, our diver technicians can efficiently execute complex repairs under the supervision of the attending engineer from the original equipment manufacturer. Our customer's get peace of mind that our diver / technicians get the same training as the factory field service engineers.
Consistent quality, timely executed repairs performed on a moments notice with full OEM service warranties; this is what makes the Subsea Solutions Alliance a true partner that delivers results!
The exchange of underwater demountable thrusters in itself is typically not a challenging process. A step by step process is developed over months of dialog between the vessels owners and equipment manufacturers. As the units are specifically designed for underwater demounting, it minimizes the amount of in-water processes required. However, when thrusters get to be this big, the consequences of your actions become all the more critical and that is why major offshore drilling operators rely on the consistently reliable service from the diver / technicians of the Subsea Solutions Alliance. With top notch equipment approved for use on these types of projects, documentation and safety manuals compliant with offshore and operator requirements, and skilled diver / technicians familiar with the construction and exchange process of thrusters, the Subsea Solutions Alliance is the one call they need to make for operations taking place on a global basis.
During a routine wet docking all four (4) underwater demountable azimuthing podded thrusters were exchanged with factory overhauled exchange units. Utilizing a somewhat modified procedure for thruster exchange, these 150 ton azimuthing thrusters were exchanged successfully in accordance with the wet docking time constraints. A single shift of diver / technicians and one project manager was dispatched from the Subsea Solutions Alliance base the Netherlands. A complete containerized dive station and containerized decompression chamber was delivered on site for quick and easy mobilization. All operations were managed from the advanced dive control station as delivered by the Subsea Solutions Alliance. Advanced communication systems were employed so that vessel internal operations were easily coordinated with underwater operations and diver management.
As with all heavy lifts, surprises and challenges arose. That is when the experts of the Subsea Solutions Alliance shined. Providing real time engineering support, diver / technicians with expertise in performing rigging operations in all different types of scenarios added an additional layer of on-site review and confirmation to assure results. This allowed a safe operation to be performed and completed on time.. As the superintendent put it "Anyone can fly an airplane in perfect conditions, but not everyone can fly an airplane in undesirable conditions with limited visibility and no automated controls. That's the difference between a pilot and a pilot wanna be!" That's the difference between the Subsea Solutions Alliance and companies that wanna be. The Subsea Solutions Alliance make a challenging operation safe, efficient and reliable.
Monthly Summary of Major Projects Performed by the Subsea Solutions Alliance
A summary of major projects performed by the Subsea Solutions Alliance
include:
• 150 Ton demountable Azimuthing thruster exchange performed for an offshore client in Western Europe
• Two (2) Hyperbaric tunnel thruster repairs were performed in Europe
• Four (4) Propeller edge optimizations were performed in Europe and the Middle East
• One (1) permanent repair was performed to a propeller with cold static load straightening in Europe.
• One (1) class approved permanent wet weld repair was performed to a crack in a tunnel thruster tunnel in Europe
• Removal of four (4) Pre-Swirl stators on a cargo vessel while performing cargo in Europe due to cracks and structural damage
• Two (2) Shell Plate Repairs were performed in the Caribbean
• One (1) Shell plate repair with underwater hyperbaric welding was performed on the Southeastern USA
• One (1) tunnel thruster repair was performed in Bermuda
• One (1) tunnel thruster removal was performed in the Caribbean
• One (1) permanent repair was performed to a propeller with cold static load straightening in Southeastern USA.
• One (1) permanent repair was performed to a propeller with cold static load straightening in the Gulf of Mexico.
• One (1) permanent repair was performed to a propeller in the Caribbean.
• One (1) Rudder repair was performed on the West Coast of North America
• One (1) Tunnel thruster repair was performed on the West Coast of North America
• One (1) Tunnel thruster tunnel weld repair performed in dry atmospheric environment on the West Coast of North America
• Controllable Pitch Propeller blade palm seals replacement in the Far East
• Major Underwater Marine Construction port rehabilitation project begun on the West Coast of North America
UNDERWATER WELDING- Cracks in Tunnel thruster tunnels- No, No, No, not another crack!
A Common issue with Tunnel thrusters is the formation of cracks in the thruster tunnel grates or on the thruster stay plates. Cracks can form for many different reasons but they are most probably caused by galvanic corrosion or other impurities in the original welds that fester and grow in an area of the vessel that experiences continuous turbulent water flow while a vessel is in operation.
After an underwater survey was conducted by the client while the vessel was in the Europe, it was determined that cracks had formed in the thruster tunnel grates and the thruster stay plate. Repair options were being evaluated by the client. Proposed options from other contractors was to either perform the repair in a wet environment underwater (as a temporary repair only) or to perform the repair dry (most probably with a hyperbaric cofferdam) to achieve a permanent repair status with class. Considering the excessive time and cost associated with executing a permanent repair with a hyperbaric cofferdam, it was determined to evaluate a permanent repair with underwater wet welding. The client contacted the Subsea Solutions Alliance for an opinion and possible repair procedure. Upon review it was determined by the Subsea Solutions Alliance that a permanent repair could be achieved with underwater wet welding if a repair procedure is developed in accordance with class welding requirements and performed with certified personnel under a closely managed process.
Upon acceptance from the client to develop this process of repair, the engineering department of the Subsea Solutions Alliance prepared an underwater repair procedure for this particular vessel and issue. The repair procedure included details of how the affected areas would be prepared, the class approved weld procedures that would be employed and the personnel who would be executing the weld repair underwater in accordance with the classification society requirements. This detailed repair procedure was then submitted to the classification society for review and subsequent approval. A permanent underwater wet weld repair was approved by the classification society and now it came to execution of the repair.
When the vessel returned to Europe after the completion of another voyage, a team of certified diver / welders was dispatched from the Subsea Solutions Alliance office in Europe, Trident BV, to perform the repair. Within the time frame confirmed by the Subsea Solutions Alliance the weld repairs were completed, video inspected and subsequently approved as a permanent repair by the classification society.
Maintaining an engineering department on staff with the expertise and experience with complex underwater wet weld repairs together with a permanent staff of certified underwater wet welding personnel differentiates the Subsea Solutions Alliance from many other dive contractors throughout the world. Combining these types of services into a fully integrated solution provides peace of mind and cost effective methods of repairs for all types of clients throughout the world. Let us have the opportunity to apply our knowledge and skills to your problem.
UNDERWATER CPP PROPELLER REPAIRS- Water In and Oil out- No one likes this!
Vessels are outfitted with Controllable Pitch Propeller systems making maneuvering a dream. Operators enjoy the benefits of their flexibility, but this flexibility does come at a price as they require more maintenance and repair than a typical mono-block propeller system. The fact is with more and more focus being placed on keeping our environment clean and green, even the smallest leakage of oil on propulsion systems require immediate attention and repair. The Subsea Solutions Alliance has procedures approved by major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) that allow CPP propeller blade palm seals to be exchanged with a vessel in water at it's NORMAL draft. Typically these repairs can be done while vessels are performing cargo operations with minimal to no off-hire time assessed.
During a routine underwater inspection while a military installation was on standby in a Far Eastern port, it was determined that there was some oil leakage from the CPP blade palm seals. The military personnel contacted the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and as such the OEM contacted their global diving partner, the Subsea Solutions Alliance to jump into action by deploying equipment and personnel from Subsea Solutions Alliance offices in California USA and Busan Korea. After an inspection dive, the diver / technicians from the Subsea Solutions Alliance confirmed the actual seals that were leaking and prepared for the blade seal exchange. Utilizing procedures developed together with the OEM, and subsequently approved by the OEM, the diver / technicians exchanged the blade palm seals without flooding the CPP hub or CPP hydraulic system with water of any type. No water entered the system, no system flushing was required, and a safe, simple and environmentally friendly method of repair was employed. Creating an "oil bubble" in the area of the CPP propeller hub just below the seal area, the hub and CPP hydraulic system was effectively "sealed from seawater intrusion. Using specialty equipment and unique techniques, the diver / technicians of the Subsea Solutions Alliance effectively managed the propeller blade to allow access to the seal for a proper OEM and Class approved repair.
Working under the the close supervision of the American Bureau of Shipping under a procedure reviewed and approved in advance by ABS, the vessel was fully repaired and put back into service without dry docking or the need to off-load critical armaments and other equipment. No notation or comment was made by ABS and the vessel was put back into normal service. A critical OEM and class approved repair was executed. The Subsea Solutions Alliance yet again demonstrated how the impossible can be made possible through the close cooperation and development of critical underwater equipment repair procedures with our OEM partners. Let us know what we can do to support you!