Technical Case Study: Repairing Ship Propellers At Sea
During a recent dock survey of a Hyundai Heavy Industries-built crude oil tanker, ship surveyors discovered that after almost 14 years in service, a number of areas of corrosion had appeared on the propeller blades of the vessel.
The vessel’s S/I engineer decided to make a temporary fix before the vessels’ next scheduled drydock period using polymers.
Erick Matabang, Dubai Port Sales Engineer at Wilhelmsen Ships Service was called in to supervise and guide the dockyard personnel in the preparation and repair process.
Preparing the work site
The toughest challenge for the engineers came in gaining access to the propeller in order to carry out the repair. In order to do this, the vessel was ballasted and the propeller was lifted above sea level. To assist with the process, the dockyard provided a floating platform, which enabled easy access to the work site.
Evaluating the damaged areas
Due to the size of the surface, it was essential that engineers examined the areas of corrosion carefully, clearly marking the areas requiring repair in order to ensure that no spot was left untreated.
Preparing the surface
A critical part of the pre-repair work is in preparation of the surface. This is done by ‘sweating out’ salts by preheating the propeller’s blades for 5 minutes with an AC/OX flame. In order to reach the applicable roughness for later treatment, the team also grit blasted the de-salinated surface.
Restoring the shape
In order to restore the shape, the polymer is pre-mixed and carefully applied on the blade with a spatula.
In total, the team applied 5 sets of Ceramigrade rebuild on every blade to cover the damaged area and restore the blade’s surface.
Adding an extra Liner to prevent cavitation and erosion
45 minutes later the team applied 2 sets of Ceramigrade Liner on every blade to protect against cavitation and erosion in the future.
In total, engineers spent 3 hours on each blade to carry out the full repair, including surface preparation. The air temperature at the time of works was + 24 degrees.
Over a period of 12 working hours, 20 packs of Ceramigrade Rebuild and 8 packs of Ceramigrade Liner were used to restore the 4 blades.
Using a temporary polymer repair method extends the propeller’s operating life until next scheduled dock survey and improves the propeller’s efficiency with minimal cost.
Reference: wilhelmsen.com
⚓️ Enhance Your Knowledge. Prevent Accidents. Stay Safe at Sea.
1. eBooks for Engine Department
Master machinery operations, troubleshooting, and safety procedures with expertly written guides tailored for marine engineers. Prevent costly breakdowns and onboard accidents through practical knowledge.
👉 Explore Engine Department eBooks
2. eBooks for Deck Department
Sharpen your seamanship, navigation, and cargo-handling skills with real-world case studies and practical insights designed for deck officers and cadets.
👉Discover Deck Department eBooks
3. eBooks on Electrical Fundamentals & Issues
Understand marine electrical systems, identify potential faults, and prevent onboard electrical failures with step-by-step explanations from industry experts.
4. Pocket Guides for Quick Reference
Compact, handy, and loaded with essential checklists—perfect for on-the-go reference during operations and emergencies at sea.
5. Combo Packs to Save Big
Access multiple expert eBooks at discounted prices. Ideal for professionals seeking complete safety and operational knowledge across various ship departments.
6. Digital Maritime Courses – Learn at Your Own Pace
Upgrade your competence with Marine Insight Academy’s online courses. Learn from industry professionals anytime, anywhere, and become a safer, smarter seafarer.
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.
We managed to see same propeller repaired zones 2 years later. Unit or ceramic race was found still there!
Liquid Ceramic based polymers are good tools for engineers to restore erosion and cavitation damaged surfaces