INDUSTRY NEWS Gemmak Removes Masts On Swansea Vessel
Gemmak Engineering has removed two masts on a vessel docked at Swansea Marina, Wales
Gemmak, the engineering division within Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS), completed a scope of work aboard Helwick Light Ship LV91, issued by Swansea Museum. Designed and built as a light vessel, her hull shape and form were specifically developed to remain anchored to mark a navigation hazard in all weathers and sea states.
Following a site survey by RSS to replace the mast tensioners, it was discovered that both 87-year-old masts were in poor condition, so replacing the mast tensioners may have caused undue stresses and strains. Due to the proximity of the boat to a pedestrianised area, it was noted that the likelihood of failure and potential collapse onto that area would greatly increase with new wire tensioners acting on the masts.
p12 |
www.dockyard-mag.com | August 2024
Matthew Edwards, Engineer at Gemmak Engineering, said: “We were then contracted to undertake thickness testing on the masts to estimate the material loss due to corrosion and the affect that would have on the stability of the masts. Sections of the masts were tested and found to be in some locations between 40% and 60% of the assumed wall thickness. The recommendation based on health and safety was to remove the masts and to land them both on the ship so that any possible future works will still have the original equipment in one place.”
Both masts were estimated to weigh between 900kg and 1,000kg; they were approximately 12m tall and measured 270mm in diameter. Pipework was estimated to weigh 700kg, but during the liſt the crane was reporting near 900kg for the front mast and near 1,000kg for the rear mast.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
