SubSea Solutions Newsletter Oct-Nov 2010.pdfdifficult repair projects in remote locations, the Subsea Solutions Alliance continues to develop unique methods of repair to keep vessels

SeptemberOctober / November 2010

SubSea Solutions Newsletter"The Chronicles"

Rapid Cost-Effective Worldwide Underwater Repair SolutionsIn This Issue- SSA

Highlights

Pier Side Rudder Repairs

Underwater Weld Repairs

FPSO Critical Equipment Repairs

Additional informationmay be found on ourWeb Site:

www.subseasolutions.com

It is hard to believe that December is already upon us. The membercompanies of the Subsea Solutions Alliance remain consistentlybusy performing significant repairs on vessels throughout the world. The diver / technicians traveled the globe tackling jobs all the wayfrom the Canadian Arctic and Greenland to the exotic ports of the FarEast these past 2 months. This newsletter will highlight some of ourunique projects including some that utilized class approvedunderwater wet welding procedures with certified diver / techniciansperforming emergency permanent and temporary weld repairs. Performing certified welding in such an extreme environment like theCanadian Arctic far offshore posed significant challenges for the Diver/ Technicians of the Subsea Solutions Alliance but focus and drivetoward delivering excellence inspired the team to successfullycomplete the challenge. In addition to the challenges of extremeenvironments, the Subsea Solutions Alliance has been technicallychallenged with exchanging a rudder and rudder stock while a fullyloaded vessel was afloat. Yes, the impossible is indeed possible andthe result is a permanent OEM and class approved repair performedin less time than going in and out of the dry dock. Challenged by

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difficult repair projects in remote locations, the Subsea SolutionsAlliance continues to develop unique methods of repair to keepvessels in the water and in service. We keep our customer'sbusiness afloat!

The Subsea Solutions Alliance was very busy in October andNovember meeting the needs of the industry by performing multiplehigh value repairs in various ports around the world. The summarybelow illustrates just some of the major projects performed.

1 Tunnel Thruster lower unit exchange was performed in theCaribbean2 Tunnel Thrusters were repaired dry in-water in the Far East1 Azimuthing demountable thruster was exchanged in Europe1 Ship shaft aft stern seal was overhauled / repaired hyperbarically inEurope1 Ship shaft aft stern seal was overhauled / repaired wet in Mexico1 Temporary wet weld repair to shell plating was performed in theCanadian Arctic and Greenland1 Temporary weld repair to shell plating was performed on the EastCoast of the USA1 Permanent wet weld repair was performed in the Aleutian Islands,Alaska1 Permanent wet weld repair was performed in a FPSO in the FarEast1 Ship shell plate permanent weld insert was performed in Europe1 Ship shell plate permanent weld insert was performed on the USAWest Coast1 Rudder blade and stock was extracted and re-installed with new unitin Europe.2 Rudders were repaired in Europe1 FPSO had extensive underwater work performed including 2-tunnelthrusters exchanged and the main propeller repaired in the Far East.2- Propellers were repaired with section reduction techniques - one inthe Caribbean and 1 in the Great Lakes, Canadian side.1 Salvage job was performed in Europe. These months have afforded the Subsea Solutions Alliance theopportunity to continue to pave new ways into underwater ship repair. We look forward to continuing to work together with all of our valuedclients around the world and we thank you for your continuedpatronage and support.

--Rick Shilling Subsea Solutions Alliance

Fully Loaded and Flap-less


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Pierside Rudder blade and stock preparation

Pier Side Rudder blade and stock exchange Permanent OEM and Class approved repairs

Taking vessels out ofservice in today'svolatile market is notpossible. Considering thatcritical repairs are stillrequired on vessels,unique methods ofrepair need to beadopted. When oneof The SubseaSolutions AllianceOriginal EquipmentManufacturer (OEM) partners needed to perform critical repairs onboard a fully loaded bulk carrier, a unique repair solution wasrequired. An internal defect was found on the rudder stock requiringthe stock to be exchanged. As the vessel was fully loaded drydocking options did not exist.

Together with our OEM partner a detailed repair procedure wasdeveloped by the engineering department of the Subsea SolutionsAlliance. The repair procedure incorporated the classificationrequirements for installation of the rudder stock. The procedureincluded the removal of the existing rudder stock, verification of thecondition of the neck bushing and preparation of the vessel for pierside installation of the rudder stock and blade.

Once new parts arrived on site the Subsea Solutions Alliance diver/ technicians went to work. Working hand in hand with our OEMpartners, the new rudder stock was installed into a new rudderblade. The Rudder Stock Cone coupling was properly installed withoil injection into the hydraulic propeller nut installed. Once theinstallation was completed the diver / welders secured the rudderstock nut access plate withclass approved permanent welds. Apressure test was conducted andthe rudder blade with stock wasfound to be water tight.

Installation of the rudder completewith the rudder stock alreadyinstalled was then performed by theSubsea Solutions Alliance. A


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Rudder blade and rudder stockready for installation

detailed rigging plan wasdeveloped by the engineeringdepartment of the SubseaSolutions Alliance so that thealignment could be safely andeasily managed by the OEMservice engineers managing the jobfrom inboard the vessel. Once therudder system was properly alignedinto the vessel's steering gear, thesystem was completely raisedwithin the vessel's hull for finalsecuring to the steering gearsystem. This required that therudder stock be secured to thesteering gear using specializedtension rings. These tension ringsexpand properly when secured into place and formed a permanentsecuring device complying to the OEM and classificationrequirements for installation and securing of a rudder.

Upon completion of the job our OEM partner concluded that usingthe installation method developed by the Subsea SolutionsAlliance dramatically reduced the installation time for the rudderstock and blade. By having no restrictions on draft BELOW thevessel this allowed the diver / technicians to install the rudder bladeTOGETHER with the rudder stock. This method of installation saved considerable time and minimized risks typically associatedwith this type of repair. By significantly reducing the amount ofrigging, minimizing the requirements for overhead crane support andeliminating the need for scaffolding underneath the vessel, theSubsea Solutions Alliance once again demonstrated that thinkingin the water as opposed to out of the water can save vessel ownersand operators money, reduce project risk and allow the OEM toclosely control and monitor this critical installation process throughthe Subsea Solutions Alliance.

Help my Hull while in WaterUnderwater weld repairs- Permanent and Temporary

Underwater welding is an exact science that requires the rightequipment, qualified personnel and welding electrodes. It's a factthat many companies can strike an arc underwater or install acofferdam over a damaged section of vessel, but not every companymeasures up to the same standard of excellence expected bytoday's sophisticated clients. The member companies of theSubsea Solutions Alliance continue to set the standard for


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underwater welding by maintaining a permanent staff of over 150diver / technicians certified in ALL POSITIONS to the AmericanWelding Societies / ANSI standard D3.6 M: 1999- Class "A" for wetwelding. In addition to maintaining approved wet weldingprocedures and diver / technicians certified to these stringentstandards, the Subsea Solutions Alliance has developed drywelding procedures certified by ALL major classification societies forsingle sided permanent shell plate repairs and fractures. Workingtogether with Oceanwide Ship Repair Inc. of Long Beach California,the Subsea Solutions Alliance can now provide a permanentapproved single sided ceramic backing plate weld procedure forinsert shell plate repairs as well as hull plate fractures in accordancewith the stringent American Bureau of Shipping rules andregulations. The member companies of the Subsea SolutionsAlliance remain the only global underwater ship repair company withpre-approved procedures and diver / welders on staff certified tomeet these stringent requirements.

Putting these repair procedures to the test was the na me of thegame this past month when apermanent insert repair inaccordance with the AmericanBureau of Shipping was required on a cruise vesseloperating on the US WestCoast. Picking up whereanother diving contractor hadleft off required the engineeringdepartment of the SubseaSolutions Alliance tore-engineer the cofferdam prepared by the initial dive contractor sothat it would properly seal the affected area while at the same timewithstand forces exerted by the sea-water when pumped dry. TheSubsea Solutions Alliance in Long Beach California,re-manufactured the cofferdam with full buoyancy control so that itcould be quickly installed with 2 diver / welder technicians easilywithout the need of lift bags.

During a normally scheduled scheduled port stay two diver / weldertechnicians installed the cofferdam and de-watered the affectedarea. Once pumped dry the affected plate was removed and asingle side weld with a ceramic backing plate was utilized to re-installan already prepared shell plate insert. Under the watchful eye ofthe attending surveyor from the American Bureau Shipping the repairwas completed and the vessel continued on it's cruise to its next portof call. Without the already approved single sided weld procedure inplace this repair could not have been executed as efficiently as it


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Class "A" approved Underwater wetwelding performed by Class certified

Diver / Welder technician

was by the Subsea Solutions Alliance. After the launching, a newbuildFPSO in Korea sustained somebottom plating damage andripped off some very large zincanodes . In order to execute aclass approved permanentrepair, the newest SubseaSolutions Alliance office inBusan Korea was called tosupport this work. Withapproved wet weld proceduresin place and equipment locallysituated in Busan, Korea, theteam was mobilized to the worksite. Re-installation of the anodes and repair to the bottom platingwas performed under the watchful eyes of the attending classsurveyor and customer representatives. By maintaining localresources in Korea combined with approved wet weld procedures tothe highest standards, the Subsea Solutions Alliance was able toallow the FPSO to remain afloat and topside outfitting to continuewhile critical repairs were completed to it's shell plating.

While performing a routine inspectionof a US Coast Guard cutter, a crack inits skeg was found. As the vessel wasscheduled for a routine dry dock in thecoming months it was decided that aclass approved temporary repairwould be performed utilizing USCGand Class approved underwater wet welding procedures. Mobilizingcertified diver / welder technicians from the Subsea SolutionsAlliance office in Miami Florida the skeg repair ensued. Thetemporary repair included drill stopping the 9 foot (2.8 meters)crack. The crack was then covered with doubler plates, and theskeg plating was reinforced with external framing. A wet shieldedmetal arc welding process in accordance the Subsea SolutionsAlliance's class approved wet welding procedure was employed toexecute the repair. Lap Joint and T-Joint multi-layer fillet welds wereemployed. Once all welding processes were completed all metallicsurfaces were covered with a in-water curing epoxy approved for useon US military watercraft.

Value adding underwater repair solutions available throughout theworld on a moment's notice, maintaining approved procedures,equipment deployed throughout the world and a certified staff of


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Subsea Solutions Alliance and Rolls Royce MarinePreparing Thruster for installation

Subsea Solutions Alliance Diver /Technician Preparing for equipment repair

underwater diver / welders, the Subsea Solutions Alliance remainsavailable to support your needs when required. Let us know yourchallenges and we will find ways to overcome them!.

One stop Shop- You float we Fix!Tunnel thruster Exchanges and Propeller repairs on an FPSO while at anchor

Taking a FPSO out of service is not only a complex operation butcostly process riskingthe commodity pricefor oil in a geographicarea. However,mother nature's furyalways prevails soafter a typhoonpassed through aFPSO's location theoperator took theopportunity to performsome criticalequipment repairswhile at anchorage ina sheltered harbor. Working together withour Original Equipment Manufacturer Partner, Rolls Royce Marine,two tunnel thrusters were exchanged with recently OEMoverhauled units and themain propeller was repairedusing cold static loadstraightening combined withsectional reductiontechniques. All of the workwas performed during ashort 10 day period of time.Working around the clockwith two dive teams workingindependently of each otherboth tunnel thrusters wereexchanged utilizing RollsRoyce's patented sledsolution. By utilizing thissolution the tunnel thruster lower units could be exchangedcompletely wet with the propeller blades installed. This saved twoshifts of work per tunnel thruster.


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By providing highly skilled personnel cross trained in many differentfacets of underwater equipment repair, the Subsea SolutionsAlliance was able to provide a complete OEM and class approvedrepair on essential equipment on site over a short period of timewhile the FPSO waited for the weather to clear. By maintainingequipment certified for this specific type of work on Offshoreinstallations readily available to dispatch around the world, the diver /technicians of the Subsea Solutions Alliance were able to set uptwo complete working stations only requiring 480 / 460 volt power at100 amps from the vessel. Working independently in conformancewith our customer's time, quality and budgetary expectations is whatdefines us as the Subsea Solutions Alliance. We look forward tosupporting your needs!

The Subsea Solutions Alliance (SSA) consists of underwater ship repairspecialists including: All-Sea Enterprises Ltd, Miami Diver Inc, Parker DivingInc and Trident BV. With a dedicated staff of over 150 divers globally, SSAhas revolutionized the methods of repair for ship equipment underwater. Through a common shared system of dive equipment, specialty tools, anddive personnel the SSA is able to mobilize quickly anywhere throughout theworld with diver / factory trained service technicians for most OEMequipment. From the replacement of aft propeller shaft seals to theexchange of thrusters to straightening large bends in propellers, SSA hasbecome the OEM's choice for all types of complex repairs. With classapproved techniques and a highly trained staff in both underwater shiprepair and propulsion equipment maintenance, SSA is the clear choice forvessels operating in sensitive environments and on critical trade routes.

For Further information please feel free to contact:

Rick ShillingSubsea Solutions AllianceSales and Marketing ManagerE-Mail:[email protected]: +1-914-826-0045

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Documents

SubSea Solutions Newsletter Oct-Nov 2010.pdfdifficult repair projects in remote locations, the Subsea Solutions Alliance continues to develop unique methods of repair to keep vessels