A LPG tanker suffered serious damage to its propeller, resulting in all four blades being damaged/bent, causing excessive vibration in the ship’s propulsion system.
The owner carried out a prior underwater inspection with divers to verify the extent of the damage.
The ship continued its journey to Manaus anchorage, with the objective of carrying out repairs to the propeller, under an emergency regime. Metalock Brasil was requested to carry out these repairs, with the vessel remaining afloat and trimmed by the head, so that at least one of the blades at any one time would remain out of the water and make the repairs possible.
Metalock Brasil confirmed the feasibility of the floating repair and urgently dispatched a team from Rio de Janeiro.
Local logistical support was arranged – MIG welding machine, generator, workboat, support barge, scaffolding and gases such as oxygen, LPG, and argon.
To ensure Classification Society approval of the repair, Metalock Brasil provided a qualified and certified team, including a certified welder, welding and repair procedures and suitable certified consumables (MIG welding wire for NiAl Bronze welding), submitted to Class (ABS) for approval, subsequently fully approved.
The fairing up of the blades was made using LPG and the cracks were repaired with MIG welding process. After repairs, final finishing and polishing was carried out.
After the completion of the repairs, the blades were subjected to NDT (dye check), in the presence of the ABS surveyor. The fairing up of the blades was approved, no cracks detected in the tests.
Metalock Brasil’s team was asked to accompany the sea trial, where all the engine and propulsion performance tests were carried out satisfactorily. Subsequently the vessel was able to continue its voyage, after another quality job done by Metalock Brasil.
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