Feature 5 | UNDERWATER MAINTENANCE SSA upgrades in-voyage services
Te Subsea Solutions Alliance (SSA) - comprising All-Sea Enterprises, Miami Diver, Parker Diving Service and Trident BV - has continued to strengthen its capabilities, by working together with its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partners.
repair solutions that allow OEMs to access equipment without causing any disruption to vessel operations. For example, underwater intervention techniques that can be performed completely wet with minimal disassembly underwater have been developed for tunnel thrusters. According to business development
O
manager, Rick Shilling: “Tis allows clients to receive a fully overhauled, fully warranted tunnel thruster exchanged in any suitable dive port throughout the world without any delays to the vessel’s schedule.” In addition to these techniques for tunnel
thrusters, SSA’s engineering department is working on new controllable pitch and fixed pitch propeller repair techniques with OEM partners. Te aim, says SSA, is to further enhance the group’s service portfolio so that it can be in a position to offer alternative solutions for clients. SSA has also been working on initiatives
to help offshore operators, developing repair processes and advanced buoyancy control solutions for underwater propulsion equipment. According to Mr Shilling: “Tis allows vessel operators to maintain their installations on station while at the same time performing emergency work and scheduling preventative maintenance without the need for specialised cranes or advanced rigging equipment. Working with partners, our engineering team has created the flexible habitats for hyperbaric dry repairs to equipment underwater and advanced buoyancy control solutions that allow the safe and efficient exchange of propulsion thrusters underwater.” To better support their operations in the
field, SSA members are currently expanding their facilities in line with the needs of the group’s growing customer base. Parker Diving Service and Miami Diver have just
26 SSA dive-technicians carried out a temporary repair to a damaged bulbous bow.
finalised plans to develop new buildings on adjoining properties to their existing locations and additional offices, warehousing and training facilities are soon to be put into place. Furthermore, Trident is in the middle of a multi-million Euro renovation and expansion of its facility in the Netherlands. Once completed, the enlarged facility will include the third SSA training centre with twin dive tanks and other equipment. Another SSA member, All-Sea
Enterprises, has recently opened up a new centre in Busan, South Korea. “Now that we have equipment and personnel permanently stationed in Korea, we are able to provide fast and professional support to our clients in the Far East through this new facility,” adds Mr Shilling. SSA is also continuing to invest in the the
‘human’ side of the business. Twelve diver technicians have been attending training at Blohm and Voss in Hamburg so that additional certified seal bonders will be available for global customer support. Furthermore an
additional 27 diver technicians have been certified to “A” class approved underwater wet welding procedures. Mr Shilling said: “By maintaining procedures and divers certified to these approved “A” class welding standards, which are applicable to all major classification societies, we can ensure we have the personnel available to meet emergency or routine underwater welding needs.” Project management capability has also
been enhanced with professional engineers hired in both Miami and Long Beach while new 3D CAD systems have been implemented in all major SSA facilities to strengthen in-house engineering departments. Mr Shilling said: “SSA prides itself on maintaining its own full time workforce and maintains as a core value the continual development of personnel. Training is a never-ending process.” Te abilities of SSA dive engineers were
demonstrated in the not too distant past when a container vessel suffered significant damage during a grounding when entering a
Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 3rd Quarter 2010
ver the past year or so SSA has put considerable effort into developing some innovative underwater
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