Repairs
General repairs in Oman Drydock Co
ODC continues to work during COCID-19 For many shiprepair yards, the COVID-19 pandemic has been highly problematical. However, during this period, Oman Drydock Co (ODC) did not suspend its operations and has experienced zero COVID-19 cases up until mid-May. Therefore, drydocking operations were not a challenge for shipowners during the period of the pandemic crisis. The challenge of obtaining and supplying critical spare parts was a challenge minimised by well-planned preorder confirmations. ODC implemented numerous preventative measures at all the company’s shipyard locations, which maintained high-level safety conditions within the operations to ensure business continuity during the outbreak, and to protect staff and clients. New shift working systems in production were also implemented to minimise unnecessary contact, and maintain social distancing. ODC has completed several projects involving BWM system installation and scrubber retrofitting - recently four VLOCs fitted with Alfa Laval scrubber systems sailed from the yard during early and mid-May, and the yard is currently working on a BWM system installation and drydocking on-board a MR Tanker. The yard has also carried significant steel work (250-400 tons) for grounding damage, the work carried out on schedule. During 2020, the yard has been consistently busy with some 19-20 ships simultaneously under repair up to April. Redelivery of more
than 850 projects since the yard’s inception and more than 50 ships so far for this year. These ships come from key owners and are of various types, the repair work ranging from medium to large workscope. Three of these projects involved ships from the Greek market - the bottom steel renewal on-board a Suezmax tanker from Avin International, the work involving more than 250 tons, and grounding damage to a VLCC, owned by Eastern Mediterranean, work carried out on the vessel’s bottom line and ballast tanks, involving some 400 tons, and a 20 year-old Suezmax tanker with extensive machinery and electrical repairs, and hull painting ODC has had a good start to the year with an impressive number of scrubber retrofits from key owners such as Oman Shipping and MSC. These have included scrubber retrofits onboard a series of four VLOCs, one VLCC and three containerships. This has enhanced the reputation of the yard being an approved base to carry out such retrofit work with competitive delivery times and quality work. Currently there a further 16 orders for scrubber retrofits, and the yard is confident for more such orders. On the BWM system installation market, ODC has become experienced with more than 25 units already installed for key owners such as Maersk, Norbulk Shipmanagement, Dynacom, etc. - there are more BWM systems to come. Since November last year, ODC has redelivered two LNG tankers, from NYK (UK) and SCI. There are already another two LNG tankers due in the yard with the yard expecting more throughout the year. Currently in the yard some eight commercial ships are under repair - two bulk carriers, one Suezmax tanker, two containerships, one VLOC, one MR Tanker and some barges. More
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commercial ships are expected prior to the end of the month. Meanwhile, ODC continues to grow by establishing discussions with shipowners in new markets and technical partners. During April, ODC successfully completed scrubber retrofits on-board a series of four 400,000 dwt Valemax ore carriers - Sohar Max, Saham Max, Liwa Max and Shinas Max. The scrubber equipment for all four ships was supplied by Alfa Laval. ODC also completed repairs on-board Norbulk Shipping’s 63,153 dwt bulk carrier Saddler Wells, the workspec including cargo hold blasting, and the installation of a BWM system. Daiichi Chou Marine’s two bulk carriers - 76,807 dwt bulk carrier Nenitia and 83,483 dwt Fidelity, were both in the yard recently for cargo hold blasting and BWM system installations. Recently in the yard were Executive Shipmanagement’s 45,896 dwt product tanker UACC Concensus, in the yard for Special and CAP1 surveys, Tanerska Plovida’s 166,739 dwt tanker Kriti Diamond, in for grounding damage repairs, and two containerships from MSC Shipmanagement, the 33,985 dwt MSC Ishyka and the 29,337 dwt MSC Lana, both ships in for special survey and scrubber installation. ODC has also completed afloat repairs to CMA CGM’s two containerships, the 199,855 dwt CMA CGM Jean Mermoz and the 202,684 dwt CMA CGM Antoine De St Expueri. A spokesman for ODC said, “For May, while we have many orders, we are yet to receive confirmation from owners regarding actual ETAs of the vessels and if personnel will be able to travel to Oman, due to the current COVID-19 crisis. The situation may become clear, closer to the end of April when all national governments take a decision regarding the lock down.”
Damen Sweden wins research vessel conversion Sweden’s Damen Oskarshamnsvarvet, part of Holland’s Damen Shipyard Group, has won the public tender for a contract to undertake a major life-extension programme on the 514 gt survey and research vessel Ocean Surveyor, owned by SGU, Sweden’s national geological survey agency. The vessel will undergo the life-time
