Feature 6 | BULK CARRIER REPAIRS AND CONVERSIONS
Star Bulk commissions second Overlay project
SPS Overlay has recently finished another major project with Star Bulk Corporation of Athens.
to undertake steel reinstatement on the 184,000dwt bulk carrier, Star Sigma, while she was docked at the Shanhaiguan Shipyard in northern China in August this year. Tis follows on from a similar project that was carried out on the 150,000dwt Star Ypsilon at the same yard in 2009. According to Peter Tedder, business
U
development manager: “This is a major breakthrough within the Greek shipowning community who tend to be very conservative, but are very astute when it comes to time and money. Now that charter rates are increasing, especially for large capesize ships, off-hire time is viewed as something to be avoided and SPS Overlay can help them with this requirement.” A total area of 2393m2
, including cargo
hold tank tops, hoppers and stools, was reinstated with the composite SPS system overlaying an area of existing steel with a 10mm thick steel section of new steel, and ‘sandwiching’ a 20mm thick injected elastomer core. Te vessel was in dock for 15 days, and the speed of the reinstatement process was aided by the growing experience in the process by Shanhaiguan Shipyard, which has now handled eight SPS Overlay projects. George Mantalos, Star Bulk’s technical
manager, comments: “We chose SPS to reinstate the cargo holds because of the speed of application and the saving in time. Star Ypsilon’s tank tops which were reinstated last year are still flat and in excellent condition.” Beside the cost savings accrued by
minimising repair time, using SPS Overlay delivers long term operational benefits, including enhanced impact resistance and permanently flatter surfaces. Mr Tedder adds: “Once a vessel is repaired using SPS, discharges are faster and easier, giving another operational in-service benefit. This is because the
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K-based Intelligent Engineering’s SPS Overlay division has secured a second project with Star Bulk
Cavity injection in progress.
Workman welding top plate.
inner bottom remains flat, as a result of the greater impact resistance of the now composite structure.” Tere are also benefits for the yard. As Mr
Tedder points out: “When a vast amount of steel renewal is needed but skilled labour is limited yards are in a difficult situation. SPS Overlay is able to reinstate maximum areas with minimum man-hours, relieving
shipyards of skill shortages so they are able to concentrate on other aspects of repairs, whilst shipowners get their asset returned far more quickly and in an enhanced condition.” SPS is a patented technology that is
approved by all major classification societies. To date 31 bulk carriers have had steel reinstatement using the system. SCRT
Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 4th Quarter 2010
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