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Feature 6 | FAR EAST


While it is reasonably optimistic about


prospects for the coming year, Yiu Lian says there are some significant challenges ahead. In particular the company draws attention to issues relating to the appreciation of


Chinese currency against the US dollar, which is effecting income levels, and rising material and labour costs. Furthermore, repair capacity within China continues to increase. As Huang points out:


An aerial view of the Yiu Lian Dockyards Mazhou Island facility near to the port of Shekou.


“Supply is exceeding demand for shiprepair and conversion in China and some other yards are still expanding their facilities, this will worsen the situation, reducing price levels still more.” SRCT


UMC enhances regional capability


UMC International’s Singapore operation continues to grow as a hub for regional underwater and afloat maintenance repair, covering South East Asia and also parts of the Far East as well.


S


ince its establishment more than two years ago, UMC’s Singapore- based South East Asia (SEA) hub has


steadily grown in the range and complexity of the afloat maintenance and repair work it undertakes, not just in Singapore but also the surrounding South East Asia and Far East regions. A good example of the type of work carried


out by the company is the recent afloat repair, in the Singapore anchorages, of extensive impact damage to a 200m long cargo vessel. Te repair operation involved sealing five major breaches to the underwater hull on the port side and starboard side, forward of the turn of the bilge areas. Te tears and openings in the damaged hull - the largest of which measured 6m x 4m - had caused extensive flooding in the double bottom tanks. Aſter an underwater inspection, UMC’s


naval architect and project engineering teams developed a temporary repair procedure which was submitted and approved by the classification society concerned. Te UMC SEA project team then proceeded to install underwater doubler plates and over base


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plates, secured by fully welded joints, which were subsequently protected by underwater epoxy. With the breached hull fully watertight, UMC SEA provided turnkey management of the project by subcontracting and overseeing all the inboard plate and frame repairs. On successful completion and acceptance by Class of the repair, the ship sailed for its ocean passage and cargo discharge, some several thousand miles later. UMC SEA Asia, formerly Maritime


Underwater Maintenance Pte Ltd, now not only supplies a comprehensive range of afloat maintenance but has the in-house engineering capacity, supported by the wider UMC International organisation, to provide full design solutions for afloat and underwater repairs. UMC SEA was recently awarded a contract for the design and installation of a series of cofferdams, each weighing in excess of 80tonnes, to help the extension of a dry dock in Singapore. Te contract involved cofferdam designs and installation procedures as well as the specification of ancillary equipment, including a bespoke cofferdam sealing system.


A large plate repair undertaken by UMC SEA. UMC SE Asia is now fully integrated


into the UMC International global network and works closely with colleagues at UMC’s Middle East and European hubs. Work is completed under the UMC IS0 9001 umbrella, and typically includes hull cleaning, propeller polishing, inspection or minor repairs. However with a fully established hub in UMC SEA, UMC is now able to offer the full range of its underwater and afloat maintenance and repair solutions to its global customer base operating in SE Asia, and further afield in the Far East. SRCT


Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 1st Quarter 2012


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