Insert installation in Uruguay prevents tanker from losing charter
Hydrex diver removing corroded shell plating (Source: Hydrex)
A 277m-long oil tanker avoided a spell off-hire after Hydrex completed an underwater repair off Punta del Este, Uruguay. The Liberia-flagged vessel had suffered corrosion damage that caused a hole in the bottom plating of a ballast tank beneath a sounding pipe. With the tanker’s tight schedule and poor weather ruling out underwater welding, Hydrex proposed a two-phase plan allowing the ship to remain in service.
Divers first carried out a detailed inspection and fitted a doubler plate using a non-welding method. The temporary repair was completed quickly, enabling the vessel to remain on charter, with the classification society permitting operation until the next drydocking on the condition of regular inspections.
Three months later, Hydrex returned to install a permanent insert plate measuring 860mm by 600mm. After removing the doubler, the team fitted a cofferdam adapted to the hull’s shape, cut away the damaged area, and welded in the new plate using the company’s class-approved full-penetration weld procedure. Ultrasonic testing confirmed the repair’s integrity, and the classification surveyor approved the work.
Despite adverse conditions during both operations, Hydrex’s trained diver-technicians maintained safety and quality standards, ensuring the tanker’s uninterrupted service.
