Page 5 - Thome Group News Issue 45

FIRST SPECIAL (5 YEARS) DRYDOCKING: SFL KATETHOME WORLDBy Sourav Ray, Senior Vessel ManagerM/V “SFL Kate” recently completed her first 5 year dry-docking at Yuilian shipyard China. This was the first docking of any geared Bulk Carrier for the Golden Ocean fleet under Thome’s Fleet Group 12.Preparation of the dry-docking defect list was proactively started, almost 10 months earlier by Capt. Celso A. Javier and C/E Jeric Bajaro. Ship staff sent the defect lists in Refman which were all compiled into a detailed repair specification and sent to various shipyards in China for quotations.Since Bulk Carriers have extensive cargo hold coated areas (in the excess of 10,000m2 needing recoating at each docking), China is the preferred docking location for such labor intensive jobs.Based on the cost-effective quotation, time duration and reliability of the yard, Yuilian shipyard China, was selected.M/V “SFL Kate” also completed her first special survey during this dry-docking. The total repair period initially planned was 10 days, and with very good planning and aggressive control by the ship-board team, this was completed on time (including the 6 days in dry-dock).The extent of all the jobs and attention to detail of all works required, showed the commitment of the owner and managers to ensuring that the vessel was in the best possible condition structurally and operationally prior to departure from the yard.Hull areas were grit blasted and painted as necessary. All cargo holds were completely blasted & painted making them suitable for grain loading. Any leaky or suspect hydraulic lines, sea water and fresh water pipes were also renewedBeforeon deck and in the engine room. Bunker lines in the engine room were modified for the carriage, bunkering and transfer of LSMGO.The engine team had their job cut out, and our electrical officer did a good job of overhauling many of the electric motors on board along with cleaning all the switchboards& transformers.Main engine turbocharger, fuel pumps, starting air distributor, pneumatic control system and governor system were overhauled by service engineers.Auxiliary engine governors, engine room vent fans, Fire & GS pump and windlass brake lining were overhauled by the shipyard workshop.Overall, the work was completed on time and to satisfactory quality due to very good monitoring of all repair works by ship staff.Captain Rael Q. Valmores and Chief Engineer Reynaldo Ignacio were in charge on board throughout therepair period.Ship staff utilized the repair period for carrying out the maintenance of all engine room ventilators, doors, engine blower room flaps, LSA/FFA including de-rusting and painting of life boats and davits, cleaning of bilge tank & sludge tanks, de-rusting and painting of the forward and main mast etc.Luckily, the weather in China was favorable during July 2016, with very little rain and wind. The shipyard was well equipped to carry out the work scope assigned to them.AfterDECEMBER 2016 | ISSUE 47 | 5