Shipyards

New owner for RSR

Holland’s Rotterdam Ship Repair (RSR) is a 24/7/365 service and repair company to ships and ships engines in port or under voyage - the company slogan is ‘excellence in ship and engine’.

RSR has been in operation since some 10 years ago and the original founder, Leo Baks, will retire in January 2020, his shares taken over by Jan Kees Pilaar (JKP) who aims to advance the company further and strive for growth. JKP has long history in shiprepair - employed by Thyssen Krupp (Greece’s Hellenic Shipyards and Hamburg’s Blohm and Voss), and with Holland’s Damen Shiprepair & Conversion acting as its Managing Director. JKP was originally with Holland’s Verolms Botlek, now part of the Damen Shipyards Group.

RSR has a layby berth/repair quay in Rotterdam Waalhaven, measuring some 135 m with available draft of 6.5 m. Alongside this berth are an office, a well-equipped steel/ construction workshop and mechanical shop. Walking distance from these facilities to the berth is 20 m hence no (walking) time lost when going on/off-board, ensuring that the vessel is back on course as soon as possible. When this berth is tied up RSR can organise an alternative berth, partner companies willing to provide such facilities.

Repairs or services are not only provided in Rotterdam - RSR has a global out-reach, for engineers it is not an issue to sail with the vessel at sea. All work is completed in a cost- effective, quick and flexible way and obviously according all relevant Class and Regulatory requirements. Project management is available, from preparation to planning and co-ordination, up to implementation stage. Examples of this can be seen when RSR recently carried out a project in La Rochelle (France) and when sailing with a vessel from Australia to Gibraltar and overhauling all three auxiliary diesel engines.

RSR’s engineering teams are dynamic and experienced to know how the clients are the main focus, and with the passionate commitment in combination with traditional values. RSR guarantees maximum results in port or when sailing, that means on a world-wide basis.

Typical repair projects carried out by RSR include bow and stern thruster service, stevedore damage repairs, contact damages (steel repairs from bow to stern above the waterline), rudder and steering machine repairs, winch servicing and hydraulic and electrical service.

Engine works is brand independent - from a Bukh 2 cylinder engine up to 90 MC MAN units. Recently a team from RSR went on-board to change unit on a 70 MC MAN unit. A team also recently overhauled and overhauled a MAN 32/40 unit on a voyage from Antwerp to Tangier. The majority of engine repair/ overhaul projects involve Wartsila, MAK and MAN engines, the majority being 4 stroke units. However, some projects have been carried out on 2 stroke units.

Some interesting projects recently carried out, in many cases RSR has solved Port State Control issues for vessels arrested or Owners’ requirements. • On a floating welding school – RSR prefabricated and installed an elevator shaft in the cargo holds on-board the Bore Shipping’s 18,205 gt ro/ro vessel Estraden for Finland’s NorsePower. The steel pipe column inside the rotor sail tower was built by RSR in its construction shop. Prior to installation RSR did the onshore testing and commissioning at its own quay. This system reduces consumption and emission by some 6 %. RSR has also carried out maintenance operations on this plant. • RSR is often asked to assist in changing overboard valves for scrubber systems. With our partner diver company these overboard valves are blinded off and changed out. The piping system is then renewed/adjusted thus avoiding the necessity to drydock the vessel. • Along with a partner company, RSR completes cast iron welding, e.g. cylinder heads of main engines.

These are just some non-standard projects in comparison with regular repair/overhaul work, clearly indicating RSR’s overall capability and flexibility.

According to Jan Kees Pilaar, “I made my entrepreneurial dream come true with the takeover of RSR. I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur - to own my own business - it always beckoned. And now, in my final phase of my maritime career, that dream has become a reality. As of November 1st, 2021, JKP (62) is the proud co-owner and Managing Director of RSR.”

RSR focuses on shiprepair activities mainly in the ARA area. Under Pilaar’s leadership, the clientele is being expanded to include the rest of Europe and the world. This has already happened, but still to a limited extent.

The occupancy in terms of projects is good at the moment. The 135 m-long shiprepair quay is full and in fact there are constantly about 10 to 15 projects running simultaneously in various stages. The team includes 29 permanent employees and on average some 12 or so flexible workers are hired in every week. In addition to the quay, the company has

Work on a ship’s bow section alongside in Rotterdam

The Damen SCR control equipment

a mechanical and steel construction workshop. There is also a warehouse to which customers can firmly send their equipment.

JKP said, “We are actually a kind of AA road service (broken down - we get you back on the road). So we offer roadside assistance for the shipping industry. From Citroen to Jaguar, we have to be able to offer support to every kind of ship. Ships are changing - they are becoming more sustainable, sailing on alternative fuels - we have to go green as well. We are therefore going to train our technical specialists on being able to repair LNG and hydrogen engines, for example.”

RSR has now been in existence for a decade. JKP added, “We have passed the start-up phase. The baby is starting to become a child and, together with my team, I am going to give it all a new tangible form. We are going to grow together, step by step, without losing the fine basis that we have together.”

JKP is currently setting up a representation of an agency in Japan. This collaboration will initially focus on offering Japanese equipment from RSR to its own clientele. The Japanese agency will also ensure that RSR’s strategic location is better known to shipping companies in Asia.

“There is still a lot of growth potential for our company world-wide. This is one of the steps I want to take to achieve that,” reports Pilaar.

Yet JKP initially sees growth potential primarily in Europe. “I am a European and like to work with other Europeans. European shipping companies often sail in the ARA area - we trade with the same Euro currency - we know each other’s culture and have a good connection with each other. That provides opportunities.”

Damen achieves EU Stage V certification

Holland’s Damen has become the first shipyard to achieve official EU Stage V certification for its in-house developed emissions reduction system. With many Damen vessels operating in harbours and waterways that are close to or within urban areas, the group recognised that it had an obligation to develop an emission reduction system to address the health issues present by the particulate matter emitted by diesel engines as well as the environmental impacts resulting from excess nitrogen oxides.

The Damen Emission Reduction System (ERS) is a one-system-solution that combines soot filters with a selective catalytic reduction system to remove particulate matter (measured by both mass and the number of particles, the latter to ensure that the fine particles are reduced as well) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as they leave the engine and before they enter the atmosphere. It also delivers substantial noise reduction that averages 45 dB (A). With this achievement, Damen can now offer its clients a proven emission reduction system that meets the requirements of IMO Tier III, ULEV and EU stage V regulations.

The Damen ERS is a standard, proven product that is robust and reliable. It is designed for both primary and auxiliary engines generating between 300 and 700 kW of output. Sea-going vessels equipped with the proven product are eligible for obtaining the Ultra-Low Emission Vessel classification notation. The development of the EU Stage V system began in 2017, following Damen achieving certification for its NOx reduction system to comply with IMO Tier III emissions regulations.

To achieve certification, Damen partnered with Bureau Veritas (BV). The two organisations have been partners for many years and share the ambition of making the maritime industry more sustainable. Damen is currently working on the certification of the ERS for multiple propulsion trains with outputs up to more than 4,000 kW, and all will be available soon as IMO Tier III, ULEV and EU stage V certified systems for both new build and retrofit vessels.

New Directors at A&P Australia

A&P Australia (Atlantic & Peninsula Australia Pty Ltd), one of Australia’s leading marine engineering businesses, has recently appointed two new Non-Executive Directors to support its next phase of growth. Rear Admiral Phil Spedding DSC, AM and Rear Admiral Mark Purcell AM have joined A&P Australia, bringing almost 70 years of naval experience to the company.

Rear Admiral Spedding’s naval service has included exchange appointments with the Canadian and British navies and command of patrol boats, a frigate and national and coalition task groups. His operational experience included domestic fisheries and border protection duties, service in Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia and Fiji, and multiple deployments to the Middle East.

After 33 years full time service, he transferred to the Naval Reserve in 2015. He continued to serve - leading the Australian Defence Stimulation and Training Centre, and the Programme Support and Infrastructure Branch in Navy Headquarters.

In 2020 he was promoted to Rear Admiral to provide specialist advice on Navy’s future infrastructure requirements. He also provides consultant advice to the Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group on maritime sustainment infrastructure.

Rear Admiral Mark Purcell joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a midshipman in 1985 and graduated from the Australian

Phil Spedding

Defence Force Academy with a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1989.

He retired from full time service in the Royal Australian Navy as a Rear Admiral, specialised in Naval Engineering and Information and Communications Technology. His last appointment in Defence was the Head of Maritime Systems in the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.

Mark Purcell is passionate about working together with Government, Industry and Defence, as an innovative team, to provide capabilities for the nation. Commenting on his appointment, Rear Admiral Spedding said, “I have been following A&P Australia’s work on HMAS Choules for several years and have been impressed at the high standard of in-service support and availability they have delivered for the vessel, and in particular the readiness of Choules for Operation Bush Fire Assist in January 2020. A&P Australia has an ambitious growth trajectory and I am looking forward to supporting the business in its next phase.”

Rear Admiral Purcell, added, “A&P Australia has risen to become an important part of the Australian defence community and is playing a key role in growing Australian sovereign capability through the development of its team and services in Sydney and by increasing the capacity of their supply chain. Identifying opportunities for Government, industry and defence to work more collaboratively is an area I am particularly interested and where I hope to add value to the business.”

David McGinley, Chief Executive commented, “The board and I are delighted to welcome Philip and Mark to the team. They are respected leaders within the Australian marine defence industry and their knowledge and experience will be vital as we capitalise on the success of the HMAS Choules contract and continue our growth trajectory.”

Mark Purcell

New apprentices at Cammell Laird

Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird has announced that new apprentices Jae Swift and Sophie Rice join Lewis Nutall and Alexandra Saunders, who started their apprenticeship in the finance team earlier this year. The apprentices are studying for their Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) across NVQ Levels 2 and 3.

Cammell Laird Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders is one of the UK’s leading shipbuilders and has a proud history of training apprentices in a number of trades across the business and supporting them into full time careers. Cammell Laird has recruited 46 apprentices over the last year alone. Since 2005, the yard has put almost 300 apprentices through its multi-award-winning apprenticeship programme – making it one of the biggest in the UK maritime industry. The company is dedicated to investing in its apprenticeship scheme, benefitting not only Cammell Laird, but the wider Merseyside community and the future of shipbuilding in the UK.

Brian Wright, Financial Controller at Cammell Laird is responsible for managing the apprentices in the department and will act as the apprentice’s mentor to ensure the apprentices gain hands on experience and exposure to all areas of finance. Wirral Met is a Further and Higher Education College which supports over 10,000 students every year with a range of courses from entry level to higher education.

Mike Hill, Managing Director of Cammell Laird, said, “I am delighted to welcome the latest intake of finance apprentices to Cammell Laird and look forward to seeing them establish successful careers with the company, and in addition, along with all apprentices across the business, playing their part in driving our business transformation strategy over the coming years.”

Currently at the yard undergoing its major Power Improvement Project (PIP) is the Royal

(Left to right) Lewis Nuttall, Sophie Rice, Brian Wright, Alexandra Saunders and Jae Swift

Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring. The work on this vessel includes taking out two MTU diesel-generators and replacing them with three new MTU 4000 series units.

H&W wins framework agreement with RNLI

UK’s Harland & Wolff (H&W) has announced it has signed a framework agreement with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for the haul-out, repairs, maintenance, refurbishment and associated works for the RNLI’s fleet of lifeboats.

Under the terms of this framework agreement, Harland & Wolff (Appledore) will be responsible for the repairs, maintenance and other works programmes defined by RNLI for its fleet of lifeboats and other vessels. This agreement will span multiple years and each docking will be priced as a bespoke agreement based on the scope of works required to be performed on each vessel. As part of this agreement, Harland & Wolff will also support the RNLI with free bi-annual haul outs and wash down of its Appledore lifeboat.

The RNLI currently has a fleet of 431 lifeboats and 238 lifeboat stations that will require repairs and maintenance on a regular basis in order to keep them active and ready for deployment. Its Appledore yard will be working in conjunction with RNLI’s internal team to perform defined works programmes.

One of the RNLI fleet of lifeboats

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