Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine

7/31/2019 Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine

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Hydrex and Dutch stern seal

specialist AEGIR-Marine began

working together in 2006, Hydrex

as underwater specialists and AEGIR-

Marine as manufacturer-indepen-

dent stern tube seal specialists. They

collaborate to carry out in-situ

underwater stern tube seal repairs

developed by Hydrex for any manu-

facturer and type of seal.

Using the Hydrex flexible mobdocks

and the state of the art seal bon-

ding equipment of AEGIR-Marine, fast

response to any emergency call is

guaranteed from the various workshop

locations worldwide. Hydrex divers

are regularly trained in the seal bon-

ding procedures at the AEGIR-Marine

facilities. Certified divers, assisted by

an AEGIR-Marine service engineer,

ensure the most reliable service avai-

lable. Hydrex has now received full

class acceptance from several major

classification societies to perform

underwater stern tube seal repairs in

cooperation with AEGIR-Marine.

This cooperation is beneficial for

Hydrex, AEGIR and the customers of

both companies. We can offer a full

range of stern tube seal and propeller

services, whether it entails the repla-

cement of worn seals, providing a new

running area for those seals or carry-

ing out other repair or maintenance

work on a stern tube seal assembly.

Damaged propeller blades can be

straightened with the Hydrex cold

straightening machine or cropped if

the damage is too extreme.

AEGIR-Marine has a very large stock

of spare parts which are checked,

rechecked and checked again by hand.

Therefore they can guarantee availabi-

lity of seals, spares and their engineers

on very short notice. Combined with

Hydrexs large stock of equipment,

the partnership can offer a fast

response and be almost anywhere in

the world within 24 hours. The custo-

mer gets an optimal service, in a short

timeframe and at a good price.

Underwater stern tube seals

Stern tube seal operations are perfor-

med with the use of the special

Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine:performing underwater stern tube seals

and propeller operations across the globe

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Hydrex flexible mobdocks. These

mobile mini drydocks are used to cre-

ate a dry working environment under-

water in which drydock conditions are

simulated. Taking a vessel into an

actual drydock is very disruptive to

the ships operations and very expen-

sive. Finding an available drydock

is not easy; adapting a vessels sche-

dule so that it can go to drydock is

even more troublesome. Every day

that a ship needs to go off hire means

substantial losses, and the cost of

the drydock itself only adds to the

negative financial aspect of docking.

All this can be avoided by taking

advantage of the in-water services

offered by Hydrex with the full

support ofAEGIR-Marine.

All Hydrex diver/technicians have

been trained by AEGIR-Marine engi-

neers as well as representatives of

major seal manufacturers, to replace

all types of seals. Our flexible mob-

dock allows us to do so underwater,

making it unnecessary to drydock.

These mobdocks are lightweight

equipment, like all equipment used by

Hydrex, so they can be transported

anywhere in the world in a matter of

days. Combined with the worldwide

network of Hydrex offices and service

stations this means that we can be at a

location and ready to assist a vessel

faster than one might think possible.

Hydrex has received full class acceptance from several

major classification societies for underwater stern tube

seal repairs.

The Hydrex flexible mobdock allowsHydrex to create drydock like conditionsunderwater.


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accustomed to solving such problems,

our technical department worked out a

procedure that enabled the repair team

to carry out the job in the wet and after

that install the mobdock, replace the

seals and complete a full repair.

If a vessel has an oil leak it is also

often not allowed to sail on. The U.S.

Coast Guard for instance has very

strict policies concerning environmen-

tal risks and do not allow ships to sail

to a different location before the oil

leak has been permanently fixed.

Hydrex can make sure that a ship can

sail again while keeping the loss of

time to an absolute minimum.

Propeller modificationsA ship that has suffered damage to its

propeller blades might have severe

vibrations while sailing. The classi-

fication society might demand a repair

before the vessel is allowed to sail on.

By straightening the blades or crop-

ping them, Hydrex can restore the pro-

pellers balance, resulting in a green

light from the class for the vessel.

Propeller blades can be straightened

with the Hydrex cold straightening

machine. After several years in ser-

vice, a new version was put into use at

the beginning of 2009. This enabled the

Hydrex diver/technicians to straighten

blades that have been bent over a big-

ger angle. The Hydrex research depart-

ment is constantly looking into ways

to develop this technique even further

and at this very moment a new update

is in its final testing stages.

After the flexible mobdock is installed

around a stern tube seal assembly,

our diver/technicians can enter the

mobdock and start dismantling the

assembly which can then be worked

on in dry conditions. This is essential

as bonding is not possible in the wet.

During an operation the diver/tech-

nicians inside the mobdock remain

in constant communication with the

team leader and the AEGIR-Marine

engineer on shore.

The most common reason for a seal

replacement is an oil leak. These are

often caused by fishing nets or ropes

that slip into the rope guard and get

tangled up in the seal assembly, cau-

sing damage to the seals. The running

surface of the seals can also be out of

limits, preventing a perfect sealing of

the assembly from the outside and

causing the oil leak. In some cases

more severe damage is suffered, and

replacing the seals or the running area

is not enough. But even in these cases,

which fortunately are very rare,

Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine can assist

ship owners.

A good example of this is the story of

a 38,000 dwt bulk carrier that had

suffered severe damage to her seal

assembly. Hydrex was asked to do the

repairs and replace the aft seals while

the vessel was in Piombino, Italy.

The rope guard was missing from the

seal assembly and some of the stern

tube flange bolts were seriously dama-

ged, while others had broken off. The

flange ring had mostly been scraped

off, presumably by the rope guard

before it had become completely

detached. There was also a gap

between the stern tube and the flange.

It was clearly a complicated repair but

our technical department worked out

a procedure to carry out the work

in-situ. Drydocking had initially appe-

ared to be the only option for the ship

owner. The stern tube seal assembly

had sustained damage that seemed too

extensive to repair underwater. Being

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Hydrex diver/technician performing welding work on a rope guard.

The stern tube seal assembly of a bulk carrier had

sustained damage that seemed too extensive to repair

without going to drydock, but the Hydrex technicaldepartment worked out a procedure that enabled the

repair team to carry out a full repair underwater.

With the Hydrex cold straightening machineeven severely bent blades can be straightened.


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communicate the exact dimensions

and position of the damage to the

Hydrex technical department super-

vising the operation. This is essential

because the calculations need to be

perfect to achieve an ideal result

with the repair. For this reason team

members work closely together with

AEGIR-Marine Propulsion. Hydrex

team members are not only divers, but

have experience in dealing with all

kinds of different situations and cir-

cumstances. They are trained to think

If the blade is damaged too severely

by ice of other floating debris, straight-

ening is not feasible. In such cases

cropping is the best option. This is

often done with the support ofAEGIR-

Marine Propulsion Service (AMPS),

which focuses on propeller repairs

and modifications. If it is decided

that cropping is the only option, mea-

surements are taken and used to calcu-

late the exact radius of the area to be

cropped.

Both cropping and straightening

are done to restore the propellers per-

formance to as close to its optimum

condition as possible and to balance it.

This can help a vessel that is suffering

loss of speed due to an out-of-balance

propeller. Hydrex has been cropping

propellers since 1985 and straight-

ening them since 2000.

Prior to a propeller repair, a detailed

underwater inspection is carried out

by Hydrex diver/technicians who are

certified to make a full assessment of

the condition of the propeller and

HYDREX OFFICE FULLY OPERATIONALAT THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR

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Hydrex team members are not only divers, but have expe-

rience in dealing with all kinds of different situations and

circumstances. They are trained to think with the people in

the technical department and the AMPS engineers.

Hydrex SpainPoligono Industrial Palmones II

Calle Dragaminas Nave N2911370 Algeciras Spain

Phone: +34 956 675 049 (24/7)Fax: +34 956 921 914

E-mail: [email protected]

Our Hydrex office in Alge-ciras, Spain offers a largevariety of maintenance programs

and repair works for ship ownersand the offshore industry, both

underwater and above water.

Underwater maintenance services

include hull cleanings, propeller

polishings, class accepted surveys

and tail-shaft wear down readings.

Underwater repair work consists

of propeller repairs, shell plating

crack repairs, mobdock repairs,

rudder pintle repairs and any typeof welding work.

Hydrex Spain also offers a wide

range of above water operations

including accomodation ladder

repairs, anchor and chain work,

cell guide repairs, crane repairs,

hatch cover repairs and mechanical

and engine works.

Hydrex Spain is fully geared to

carry out repairs at anchorage

and in port. All operations are

certified by the classification

societies and are carried out by

highly qualified divers and tech-

nicians all of which have extensive

experience.


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AEGIR-Marine BV was founded in

2000 by Ruud Muis and Hans Dekker.

Since then AEGIR developed into a

midsize organization with facilities

in The Netherlands, Shanghai and

Singapore. AEGIR started as a manu-

facturer-independent service company

for stern tube seals and this is still the

heart of the organization in 2011.

Although AEGIR has had many deve-

lopments and growth in a relative

short period, one thing did not change:

their approach and customer focus,

which is similar to the Hydrex way of

thinking.

In 2005 we came in contact with

Hydrex Senior Project Manager Ren

Huybregts, recalls Ruud Muis. He

invited us for a meeting at the Hydrex

headquarters. Hydrex was at that point

developing new ways of repairing

stern tube seals underwater to broaden

the services offered to their customers

and had already carried out a few

jobs successfully. Hydrexs flexible

mobdock technology in combination

with our brand-independence imme-

diately turned out to be a perfect

match. Together we could offer re-

pairs for all types of seals, whether

in drydock, on a trimmed vessel

or underwater. Ruud says. In June

2006 a cooperation agreement was

signed at the Poseidonia Exhibition in

Greece.

Since then the relationship has

remained a successful one for both

parties, continues Ruud. We all

know each other personally, from the

divers up to the managers. We can

with the people in the technical

department and the AMPS engineers.

The Hydrex diver/technicians can

assist in working out the best solution

and have the skill and experience

needed to implement the theoretical

solutions that have been worked out.

Hydrex does not only offer repair

services, but can also help customers

when they have the need for preven-

tive or other special custom projects.

At the end of 2010, preventive modi-

fications were made in Bremerhaven

to the blades of three ice-going sister

vessels. When several vessels of this

customer suffered damage and needed

cropping after the 2009-2010 winter,

the owner wanted to find a way to

prevent this from occurring on others

of his container vessels. When the

2010-2011 winter promised to be

equally harsh, he wanted to give the

blades extra strength and make them

less susceptible to damage from ice

or other debris. This was done by

modifying the blades to a very spe-

cific design that made them less

prone to damage while keeping the

performance of the propeller as close

to optimum as possible. The operation

was performed in close communi-

cation with both AEGIR-Marine Propul-

sion and the manufacturer of the

propellers.

Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine:offering solutions together

This is what Hydrex does if a custo-

mer calls us for assistance: we work

out a way of solving your problem.

This separates Hydrex from diving

companies. We not only implement

the solution, we have the know-how

and experience to devise that solu-

tion in the first place. Hydrex has

always strived to offer a wide range of

services. The customer has always

been the first concern. How can we

make sure that he receives the best

possible help in the shortest possible

time? How can we take the problem

out of his hands and solve it for him?

Our cooperation with AEGIR-Marine is

a part of this. Hydrex has more than

35 years of experience with repair

and maintenance operations in the

shipping and offshore industry.

AEGIR-Marine has over 20 years of

experience with stern tube seal and

propeller repairs in its ranks. It was

only a matter of time before the two

companies found each other and

started combining their experience

and skills.

AEGIR-Marine founder Ruud Muis.

If a customer calls us for assistance, we work out a way

of solving their problem. This separates Hydrex fromdiving companies. We not only implement the solution, we

have the know-how and experience to devise that solution

in the first place.

A propeller blade after preventive croppingto make it less prone to damage from iceimpact.

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therefore openly discuss operations,

strategies and the future of our coope-

ration. We also pass on jobs to each

other; for instance if no diving work

is involved or if a customer needs

another service than the one we offer.

Hydrex Shiprepair Manager, Martin

Pauwels remembers that AEGIR-

Marine already had a very compre-

hensive knowledge of seals and liners.

This complemented our skills and

knowledge well, not only from the

point of view of the customers, but

also internally to give all our team

members a good understanding of

what exactly a seal assembly entails,

Martin says. There is a very good

synergy between the two companies.

Our cooperation has only increased

over the years. Having an AEGIR engi-

neer on a job is an added value.

At the beginning of 2009 AEGIR foun-

ded AEGIR-Marine Propulsion Services

(AMPS) in partnership with DeViss

Marine (lead by propulsion specialist

Martin Visser) and started offering an

extra service to its customers, Martin

Pauwels tells us. They hired speciali-

zed people with a lot of experience.

We were at that moment already offe-

ring the same service, but underwater.

We therefore immediately saw the

possibilities. Not only for the crop-

ping of propeller blades, but also for

the straightening of bent blades. Our

knowledge of this subject has been

vastly increased by working together

with them. This enabled us to develop

new techniques and equipment to

carry out bigger operations and repair

more comprehensive damage.

Martin Visser has had a personal rela-

tionship with Hydrex from the begin-

ning of the nineties, independently

from AEGIR-Marine, when he gave

courses to several Hydrex team mem-

ber to teach them how to replace face

type seals underwater. This made

it very easy for both parties to start

working together on propeller modi-

fication operations after AMPS had

been founded. As part of the AMPS

team, Martin Visser supervises sup-

porting services of the entire drive

system of a ship, starting at the gear-

box and including propeller blade

modifications. AMPS perform both

maintenance and repair work, he

says. We can make all hydrodynamic

calculations desired by the classifi-

cation society or the customer. Like

AEGIR-Marine, we are not restricted

to certain brands, but we do have

a specialization in LIPS/Wrtsil

products.

What happens after an enquirycomes in?

If we, for instance, get an enquiry

from a customer who has a ship with a

stern tube seal problem, we ask them

for all possible information; location,

type of ship, type of seal, technical

information and drawings, says

Martin Pauwels. All information is

then sent to AEGIR. They tell us if there

is any specific problem or aspect we

need to take into account for that

specific job. Then we generate a quote

which we send to the customer. An

AEGIR service engineer is always

present during an operation, not only

to assist our divers, but also to pre-

pare the seals and supervise their

bonding.

After the job has been coordinated

with the people in the engine room,

the Hydrex team leader and the AEGIR

representative go on board together at

the start of the job to discuss the

scope of the operation with the crew

members of the vessel. AEGIR also

performs the final tests and signs off

on their part of the operation.

A propeller modification operation

follows a slightly different route,

says Martin Visser. Ideally we recei-

ve the information about the damage

up front and then make a repair propo-

sal that will bring the performance

back as close to optimum as possible.

Our role during the actual operation is

purely a supportive one, to assist the

divers whenever needed. After the job

is completed we write a report. This is

supplied as an addition to the Hydrex

report. This is confirmed by Martin

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Hydrex Shiprepair Manager Martin Pauwels.

Calculating the best cropping line makes it possible for

the customer to know in advance what the result of the

operation will be. He can then make an informed decision.

AEGIR-Marine Propulsion Services

propeller specialist Martin Visser.


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mer. To be able to do this, all Hydrex

team members are trained and cer-

tified by AEGIR. This training certi-

ficate is renewed every year.

ConclusionIn the end the customer is the real

winner of this successful cooperation.

Together Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine

can offer a full package: work on all

type of seals or propellers can be

carried out in dock, on a trimmed

vessel or underwater. This is a unique

service in the shipping business.

Both companies have expanded great-

ly over the last couple of years and are

still growing. We keep on searching

for ways to improve our relationship

and the services we offer, in order to

keep us standing out from the rest,

concludes Ruud Muis. Despite the

fact that we remain two separate

companies we have established a very

direct and open communication and

cooperation. By offering an added

value to our customers, we make sure

that we are more than just the sum of

the two companies separate services.

Together we keep on looking for

ways to make the offered service even

better.

Pauwels. AMPS has the knowledge

and computer programs to make a

performance prediction and/or cal-

culation after a planned cropping. This

allows them to find the best cutting

line which in turn makes it possible

for the customer to know in advance

what the result of the operation will

be. He can then make an informed

decision. To do these calculations

AMPS needs the exact measurements

of the damage. These are taken by

the Hydrex diver/technician team

during a detailed inspection and used

by AMPS to make the required calcu-

lations.

Martin Visser explains that during a

propeller straightening operation, the

blade is also restored to as close to its

original form as possible. To be able

to do this the Hydrex team has to find

the cause of the bend. No calcula-

tions are necessary, but experience is

essential in doing this and AMPS can

support the team in this respect.

Propeller optimization is sometimes

also done to restore the performance

even if no real damage has occurred,

continues Martin Visser. After some

years of service an engine sometimes

loses some of its performance. By

calculating the possibilities of a pro-

peller optimization we can restore the

performance.

Trained and certified diver/technicians

On a regular basis our divers are

given a course at the AEGIR head-

quarters or our headquarters, says

Martin Pauwels. With the aid of a

dummy, the divers learn to bond the

seal, but also what to do when opening

up an assembly. They learn to look

for damage on the liner, pieces that

are broken off and other problems.

Propeller repair training on the other

hand is given on the job, but an in-

house training course for propeller

operations is being established as we

speak to give divers a good reality of

what they can expect to encounter

during an operation. Ruud Muis

confirms this. Hydrex delivers the

divers, equipment and the mobdock,

and AEGIR helps ensure success and

complete satisfaction for the custo-

Training course given at the Hydrex headquarters by an AEGIR-Marine engineer in 2006 in the

presence of Hydrex Shiprepair Manager Martin Pauwels.

In the end the customer is the real winner of this successfulcooperation. Together Hydrex andAEGIR-Marine can offer a

full package: work on all type of seals or propellers can be

carried out in dock, on a trimmed vessel or underwater.

Hydrex technician cropping a propeller blade

to bring the propellers performance back as

close as possible to its optimum condition.

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Hydrex and AEGIR-Marine

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