Port Rudder Ram In-Water Replacement

INTRODUCTION

In February 2020, an issue with the hydraulic system of a naval vessel's rudder was discovered, resulting in sea water contamination. The initial plan was to investigate this defect using a Rudder Cofferdam, however this could not be fitted successfully. Shearwater developed an alternative solution that involved diver entry into the Aft Free Flood Space (AFFS), a .

CHALLENGE

The challenge was to carry out the in-water repair of the Port Rudder Ram, given that the Rudder Cofferdam could not be fitted. The repair involved a series of complex tasks that had never been conducted in-water before, requiring innovative solutions, meticulous planning, and collaboration across various stakeholders.

SOLUTION

SMS and its partners developed a first-of-its-kind in-water repair solution, which included the following key steps:

1. Investigation and repair timeline: From December 2020 to July 2021, Shearwater carried out various activities, including ROV and diver entry, hydraulic leak detection and repair, in-water repair of the Port Rudder Ram, sourcing a replacement Rudder Ram, and successful pressure testing after the repair.

2. Repair methodology: The repair process involved removing the defective Ram, workshop activities to prepare the new Ram, and fitting the replacement Ram.

3. Collaboration: The success of the repair was possible due to the involvement of various stakeholders, including Shearwater, BAE Systems, Babcock Whetstone, PSM/PSO, Clyde Diving, Design Authority, Fleet Programmes, Fleet Engineering, Fleet Compliance, Fgen/Navyops, and Clyde Lift Plans.

RESULTS

Shearwater successfully completed the in-water repair of the Port Rudder Ram, overcoming numerous challenges, such as:

• Ram internal slinging within the AFFS

• Slinging of Rudder Ram in/out of the AFFS

• Tiller Pin Nut removal

• Pilgrim Nuts removal

• Hydraulic Swagelok connections

• Fitting of Bearing Top Hats to the new Ram

• Strength Testing of eye bolts and cleats within the AFFS

CONCLUSION

Shearwater Marine Services demonstrated exceptional expertise, dedication, and innovation in completing this first-ever in-water repair of the Port Rudder Ram. By working closely with multiple stakeholders and diving teams, and overcoming numerous challenges, Shearwater delivered a successful repair that was only two days over the scheduled timeline. This case study showcases the capabilities of Shearwater in providing innovative and effective solutions in challenging environments.

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