hydrex and aegir-marine
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
1/6
Hydrex and Dutch stern seal
specialist AEGIR-Marine began
working together in 2006, Hydrex
as underwater specialists and AEGIR-
Marine as manufacturer-indepen-
dent stern tube seal specialists. They
collaborate to carry out in-situ
underwater stern tube seal repairs
developed by Hydrex for any manu-
facturer and type of seal.
Using the Hydrex flexible mobdocks
and the state of the art seal bon-
ding equipment of AEGIR-Marine, fast
response to any emergency call is
guaranteed from the various workshop
locations worldwide. Hydrex divers
are regularly trained in the seal bon-
ding procedures at the AEGIR-Marine
facilities. Certified divers, assisted by
an AEGIR-Marine service engineer,
ensure the most reliable service avai-
lable. Hydrex has now received full
class acceptance from several major
classification societies to perform
underwater stern tube seal repairs in
cooperation with AEGIR-Marine.
This cooperation is beneficial for
Hydrex, AEGIR and the customers of
both companies. We can offer a full
range of stern tube seal and propeller
services, whether it entails the repla-
cement of worn seals, providing a new
running area for those seals or carry-
ing out other repair or maintenance
work on a stern tube seal assembly.
Damaged propeller blades can be
straightened with the Hydrex cold
straightening machine or cropped if
the damage is too extreme.
AEGIR-Marine has a very large stock
of spare parts which are checked,
rechecked and checked again by hand.
Therefore they can guarantee availabi-
lity of seals, spares and their engineers
on very short notice. Combined with
Hydrexs large stock of equipment,
the partnership can offer a fast
response and be almost anywhere in
the world within 24 hours. The custo-
mer gets an optimal service, in a short
timeframe and at a good price.
Underwater stern tube seals
Stern tube seal operations are perfor-
med with the use of the special
Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine:performing underwater stern tube seals
and propeller operations across the globe
9
Hydrex flexible mobdocks. These
mobile mini drydocks are used to cre-
ate a dry working environment under-
water in which drydock conditions are
simulated. Taking a vessel into an
actual drydock is very disruptive to
the ships operations and very expen-
sive. Finding an available drydock
is not easy; adapting a vessels sche-
dule so that it can go to drydock is
even more troublesome. Every day
that a ship needs to go off hire means
substantial losses, and the cost of
the drydock itself only adds to the
negative financial aspect of docking.
All this can be avoided by taking
advantage of the in-water services
offered by Hydrex with the full
support ofAEGIR-Marine.
All Hydrex diver/technicians have
been trained by AEGIR-Marine engi-
neers as well as representatives of
major seal manufacturers, to replace
all types of seals. Our flexible mob-
dock allows us to do so underwater,
making it unnecessary to drydock.
These mobdocks are lightweight
equipment, like all equipment used by
Hydrex, so they can be transported
anywhere in the world in a matter of
days. Combined with the worldwide
network of Hydrex offices and service
stations this means that we can be at a
location and ready to assist a vessel
faster than one might think possible.
Hydrex has received full class acceptance from several
major classification societies for underwater stern tube
seal repairs.
The Hydrex flexible mobdock allowsHydrex to create drydock like conditionsunderwater.
-
7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
2/6
accustomed to solving such problems,
our technical department worked out a
procedure that enabled the repair team
to carry out the job in the wet and after
that install the mobdock, replace the
seals and complete a full repair.
If a vessel has an oil leak it is also
often not allowed to sail on. The U.S.
Coast Guard for instance has very
strict policies concerning environmen-
tal risks and do not allow ships to sail
to a different location before the oil
leak has been permanently fixed.
Hydrex can make sure that a ship can
sail again while keeping the loss of
time to an absolute minimum.
Propeller modificationsA ship that has suffered damage to its
propeller blades might have severe
vibrations while sailing. The classi-
fication society might demand a repair
before the vessel is allowed to sail on.
By straightening the blades or crop-
ping them, Hydrex can restore the pro-
pellers balance, resulting in a green
light from the class for the vessel.
Propeller blades can be straightened
with the Hydrex cold straightening
machine. After several years in ser-
vice, a new version was put into use at
the beginning of 2009. This enabled the
Hydrex diver/technicians to straighten
blades that have been bent over a big-
ger angle. The Hydrex research depart-
ment is constantly looking into ways
to develop this technique even further
and at this very moment a new update
is in its final testing stages.
After the flexible mobdock is installed
around a stern tube seal assembly,
our diver/technicians can enter the
mobdock and start dismantling the
assembly which can then be worked
on in dry conditions. This is essential
as bonding is not possible in the wet.
During an operation the diver/tech-
nicians inside the mobdock remain
in constant communication with the
team leader and the AEGIR-Marine
engineer on shore.
The most common reason for a seal
replacement is an oil leak. These are
often caused by fishing nets or ropes
that slip into the rope guard and get
tangled up in the seal assembly, cau-
sing damage to the seals. The running
surface of the seals can also be out of
limits, preventing a perfect sealing of
the assembly from the outside and
causing the oil leak. In some cases
more severe damage is suffered, and
replacing the seals or the running area
is not enough. But even in these cases,
which fortunately are very rare,
Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine can assist
ship owners.
A good example of this is the story of
a 38,000 dwt bulk carrier that had
suffered severe damage to her seal
assembly. Hydrex was asked to do the
repairs and replace the aft seals while
the vessel was in Piombino, Italy.
The rope guard was missing from the
seal assembly and some of the stern
tube flange bolts were seriously dama-
ged, while others had broken off. The
flange ring had mostly been scraped
off, presumably by the rope guard
before it had become completely
detached. There was also a gap
between the stern tube and the flange.
It was clearly a complicated repair but
our technical department worked out
a procedure to carry out the work
in-situ. Drydocking had initially appe-
ared to be the only option for the ship
owner. The stern tube seal assembly
had sustained damage that seemed too
extensive to repair underwater. Being
10
Hydrex diver/technician performing welding work on a rope guard.
The stern tube seal assembly of a bulk carrier had
sustained damage that seemed too extensive to repair
without going to drydock, but the Hydrex technicaldepartment worked out a procedure that enabled the
repair team to carry out a full repair underwater.
With the Hydrex cold straightening machineeven severely bent blades can be straightened.
-
7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
3/6
communicate the exact dimensions
and position of the damage to the
Hydrex technical department super-
vising the operation. This is essential
because the calculations need to be
perfect to achieve an ideal result
with the repair. For this reason team
members work closely together with
AEGIR-Marine Propulsion. Hydrex
team members are not only divers, but
have experience in dealing with all
kinds of different situations and cir-
cumstances. They are trained to think
If the blade is damaged too severely
by ice of other floating debris, straight-
ening is not feasible. In such cases
cropping is the best option. This is
often done with the support ofAEGIR-
Marine Propulsion Service (AMPS),
which focuses on propeller repairs
and modifications. If it is decided
that cropping is the only option, mea-
surements are taken and used to calcu-
late the exact radius of the area to be
cropped.
Both cropping and straightening
are done to restore the propellers per-
formance to as close to its optimum
condition as possible and to balance it.
This can help a vessel that is suffering
loss of speed due to an out-of-balance
propeller. Hydrex has been cropping
propellers since 1985 and straight-
ening them since 2000.
Prior to a propeller repair, a detailed
underwater inspection is carried out
by Hydrex diver/technicians who are
certified to make a full assessment of
the condition of the propeller and
HYDREX OFFICE FULLY OPERATIONALAT THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
11
Hydrex team members are not only divers, but have expe-
rience in dealing with all kinds of different situations and
circumstances. They are trained to think with the people in
the technical department and the AMPS engineers.
Hydrex SpainPoligono Industrial Palmones II
Calle Dragaminas Nave N2911370 Algeciras Spain
Phone: +34 956 675 049 (24/7)Fax: +34 956 921 914
E-mail: [email protected]
Our Hydrex office in Alge-ciras, Spain offers a largevariety of maintenance programs
and repair works for ship ownersand the offshore industry, both
underwater and above water.
Underwater maintenance services
include hull cleanings, propeller
polishings, class accepted surveys
and tail-shaft wear down readings.
Underwater repair work consists
of propeller repairs, shell plating
crack repairs, mobdock repairs,
rudder pintle repairs and any typeof welding work.
Hydrex Spain also offers a wide
range of above water operations
including accomodation ladder
repairs, anchor and chain work,
cell guide repairs, crane repairs,
hatch cover repairs and mechanical
and engine works.
Hydrex Spain is fully geared to
carry out repairs at anchorage
and in port. All operations are
certified by the classification
societies and are carried out by
highly qualified divers and tech-
nicians all of which have extensive
experience.
-
7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
4/6
AEGIR-Marine BV was founded in
2000 by Ruud Muis and Hans Dekker.
Since then AEGIR developed into a
midsize organization with facilities
in The Netherlands, Shanghai and
Singapore. AEGIR started as a manu-
facturer-independent service company
for stern tube seals and this is still the
heart of the organization in 2011.
Although AEGIR has had many deve-
lopments and growth in a relative
short period, one thing did not change:
their approach and customer focus,
which is similar to the Hydrex way of
thinking.
In 2005 we came in contact with
Hydrex Senior Project Manager Ren
Huybregts, recalls Ruud Muis. He
invited us for a meeting at the Hydrex
headquarters. Hydrex was at that point
developing new ways of repairing
stern tube seals underwater to broaden
the services offered to their customers
and had already carried out a few
jobs successfully. Hydrexs flexible
mobdock technology in combination
with our brand-independence imme-
diately turned out to be a perfect
match. Together we could offer re-
pairs for all types of seals, whether
in drydock, on a trimmed vessel
or underwater. Ruud says. In June
2006 a cooperation agreement was
signed at the Poseidonia Exhibition in
Greece.
Since then the relationship has
remained a successful one for both
parties, continues Ruud. We all
know each other personally, from the
divers up to the managers. We can
with the people in the technical
department and the AMPS engineers.
The Hydrex diver/technicians can
assist in working out the best solution
and have the skill and experience
needed to implement the theoretical
solutions that have been worked out.
Hydrex does not only offer repair
services, but can also help customers
when they have the need for preven-
tive or other special custom projects.
At the end of 2010, preventive modi-
fications were made in Bremerhaven
to the blades of three ice-going sister
vessels. When several vessels of this
customer suffered damage and needed
cropping after the 2009-2010 winter,
the owner wanted to find a way to
prevent this from occurring on others
of his container vessels. When the
2010-2011 winter promised to be
equally harsh, he wanted to give the
blades extra strength and make them
less susceptible to damage from ice
or other debris. This was done by
modifying the blades to a very spe-
cific design that made them less
prone to damage while keeping the
performance of the propeller as close
to optimum as possible. The operation
was performed in close communi-
cation with both AEGIR-Marine Propul-
sion and the manufacturer of the
propellers.
Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine:offering solutions together
This is what Hydrex does if a custo-
mer calls us for assistance: we work
out a way of solving your problem.
This separates Hydrex from diving
companies. We not only implement
the solution, we have the know-how
and experience to devise that solu-
tion in the first place. Hydrex has
always strived to offer a wide range of
services. The customer has always
been the first concern. How can we
make sure that he receives the best
possible help in the shortest possible
time? How can we take the problem
out of his hands and solve it for him?
Our cooperation with AEGIR-Marine is
a part of this. Hydrex has more than
35 years of experience with repair
and maintenance operations in the
shipping and offshore industry.
AEGIR-Marine has over 20 years of
experience with stern tube seal and
propeller repairs in its ranks. It was
only a matter of time before the two
companies found each other and
started combining their experience
and skills.
AEGIR-Marine founder Ruud Muis.
If a customer calls us for assistance, we work out a way
of solving their problem. This separates Hydrex fromdiving companies. We not only implement the solution, we
have the know-how and experience to devise that solution
in the first place.
A propeller blade after preventive croppingto make it less prone to damage from iceimpact.
12
-
7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
5/6
therefore openly discuss operations,
strategies and the future of our coope-
ration. We also pass on jobs to each
other; for instance if no diving work
is involved or if a customer needs
another service than the one we offer.
Hydrex Shiprepair Manager, Martin
Pauwels remembers that AEGIR-
Marine already had a very compre-
hensive knowledge of seals and liners.
This complemented our skills and
knowledge well, not only from the
point of view of the customers, but
also internally to give all our team
members a good understanding of
what exactly a seal assembly entails,
Martin says. There is a very good
synergy between the two companies.
Our cooperation has only increased
over the years. Having an AEGIR engi-
neer on a job is an added value.
At the beginning of 2009 AEGIR foun-
ded AEGIR-Marine Propulsion Services
(AMPS) in partnership with DeViss
Marine (lead by propulsion specialist
Martin Visser) and started offering an
extra service to its customers, Martin
Pauwels tells us. They hired speciali-
zed people with a lot of experience.
We were at that moment already offe-
ring the same service, but underwater.
We therefore immediately saw the
possibilities. Not only for the crop-
ping of propeller blades, but also for
the straightening of bent blades. Our
knowledge of this subject has been
vastly increased by working together
with them. This enabled us to develop
new techniques and equipment to
carry out bigger operations and repair
more comprehensive damage.
Martin Visser has had a personal rela-
tionship with Hydrex from the begin-
ning of the nineties, independently
from AEGIR-Marine, when he gave
courses to several Hydrex team mem-
ber to teach them how to replace face
type seals underwater. This made
it very easy for both parties to start
working together on propeller modi-
fication operations after AMPS had
been founded. As part of the AMPS
team, Martin Visser supervises sup-
porting services of the entire drive
system of a ship, starting at the gear-
box and including propeller blade
modifications. AMPS perform both
maintenance and repair work, he
says. We can make all hydrodynamic
calculations desired by the classifi-
cation society or the customer. Like
AEGIR-Marine, we are not restricted
to certain brands, but we do have
a specialization in LIPS/Wrtsil
products.
What happens after an enquirycomes in?
If we, for instance, get an enquiry
from a customer who has a ship with a
stern tube seal problem, we ask them
for all possible information; location,
type of ship, type of seal, technical
information and drawings, says
Martin Pauwels. All information is
then sent to AEGIR. They tell us if there
is any specific problem or aspect we
need to take into account for that
specific job. Then we generate a quote
which we send to the customer. An
AEGIR service engineer is always
present during an operation, not only
to assist our divers, but also to pre-
pare the seals and supervise their
bonding.
After the job has been coordinated
with the people in the engine room,
the Hydrex team leader and the AEGIR
representative go on board together at
the start of the job to discuss the
scope of the operation with the crew
members of the vessel. AEGIR also
performs the final tests and signs off
on their part of the operation.
A propeller modification operation
follows a slightly different route,
says Martin Visser. Ideally we recei-
ve the information about the damage
up front and then make a repair propo-
sal that will bring the performance
back as close to optimum as possible.
Our role during the actual operation is
purely a supportive one, to assist the
divers whenever needed. After the job
is completed we write a report. This is
supplied as an addition to the Hydrex
report. This is confirmed by Martin
13
Hydrex Shiprepair Manager Martin Pauwels.
Calculating the best cropping line makes it possible for
the customer to know in advance what the result of the
operation will be. He can then make an informed decision.
AEGIR-Marine Propulsion Services
propeller specialist Martin Visser.
-
7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
6/6
mer. To be able to do this, all Hydrex
team members are trained and cer-
tified by AEGIR. This training certi-
ficate is renewed every year.
ConclusionIn the end the customer is the real
winner of this successful cooperation.
Together Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine
can offer a full package: work on all
type of seals or propellers can be
carried out in dock, on a trimmed
vessel or underwater. This is a unique
service in the shipping business.
Both companies have expanded great-
ly over the last couple of years and are
still growing. We keep on searching
for ways to improve our relationship
and the services we offer, in order to
keep us standing out from the rest,
concludes Ruud Muis. Despite the
fact that we remain two separate
companies we have established a very
direct and open communication and
cooperation. By offering an added
value to our customers, we make sure
that we are more than just the sum of
the two companies separate services.
Together we keep on looking for
ways to make the offered service even
better.
Pauwels. AMPS has the knowledge
and computer programs to make a
performance prediction and/or cal-
culation after a planned cropping. This
allows them to find the best cutting
line which in turn makes it possible
for the customer to know in advance
what the result of the operation will
be. He can then make an informed
decision. To do these calculations
AMPS needs the exact measurements
of the damage. These are taken by
the Hydrex diver/technician team
during a detailed inspection and used
by AMPS to make the required calcu-
lations.
Martin Visser explains that during a
propeller straightening operation, the
blade is also restored to as close to its
original form as possible. To be able
to do this the Hydrex team has to find
the cause of the bend. No calcula-
tions are necessary, but experience is
essential in doing this and AMPS can
support the team in this respect.
Propeller optimization is sometimes
also done to restore the performance
even if no real damage has occurred,
continues Martin Visser. After some
years of service an engine sometimes
loses some of its performance. By
calculating the possibilities of a pro-
peller optimization we can restore the
performance.
Trained and certified diver/technicians
On a regular basis our divers are
given a course at the AEGIR head-
quarters or our headquarters, says
Martin Pauwels. With the aid of a
dummy, the divers learn to bond the
seal, but also what to do when opening
up an assembly. They learn to look
for damage on the liner, pieces that
are broken off and other problems.
Propeller repair training on the other
hand is given on the job, but an in-
house training course for propeller
operations is being established as we
speak to give divers a good reality of
what they can expect to encounter
during an operation. Ruud Muis
confirms this. Hydrex delivers the
divers, equipment and the mobdock,
and AEGIR helps ensure success and
complete satisfaction for the custo-
Training course given at the Hydrex headquarters by an AEGIR-Marine engineer in 2006 in the
presence of Hydrex Shiprepair Manager Martin Pauwels.
In the end the customer is the real winner of this successfulcooperation. Together Hydrex andAEGIR-Marine can offer a
full package: work on all type of seals or propellers can be
carried out in dock, on a trimmed vessel or underwater.
Hydrex technician cropping a propeller blade
to bring the propellers performance back as
close as possible to its optimum condition.
14