Hydrex installs underwater doubler plate on damaged RoRo hull in Sohar
Hydrex diver performs underwater welding in Oman (Source: Hydrex)
An undisclosed RoRo vessel at anchorage in Sohar, Oman, has avoided an unplanned emergency drydock after Hydrex completed a class-approved underwater temporary hull repair. The vessel was found to have sustained severe bottom-hull-plating damage following a grounding, raising concerns over continued safe operation.
Hydrex mobilised a diving team to the anchorage in mid-November, operating from a dedicated workboat. An underwater inspection confirmed tearing in the hull-plating at frame 124 on the starboard side. To stabilise the structure and prevent crack propagation, divers drilled crack-arrest holes at the extremities of the tear before repairs proceeded.
After cleaning the affected area, the team installed a tailor-made steel doubler plate measuring 20m by 1.2m with a thickness of 8mm. The plate was secured using screw dogs and fully welded to the hull to achieve a watertight connection, before being protected with an epoxy coating.
The work was completed within a two-day window, allowing the vessel to remain at anchorage and resume trading without schedule disruption. The temporary repair will remain in place until a permanent repair is carried out during the vessel’s next planned drydock, enabling the owner to control timing, location and cost.
