As part of Seaward Marine Services, Inc.'s continuing contract with the MIDWAY Museum in San Diego, CA, divers completed an underwater hull cleaning using SCAMP, coating of bare metal areas on the underwater hull using HYCOTE underwater coatings, and a hull potential survey on the EX-USS MIDWAY (CV-41).  Divers then completed an inspection and documented the hull conditions for future planned maintenance.  This most recent maintenance period was completed in June 2015.

The full hull cleaning using Seaward's SCAMP multi-brush platform was performed in accordance with NAVSEA’s Naval Ships’ Technical Manual Chapter 081, Hull Cleaning Guidelines.  Afterward, bare metal areas were identified and the dive crew applied approximately 250 sq. ft. of HYCOTE underwater coating to the underwater hull, running gear, and seachest blank box attachment areas which required repair.  HYCOTE is a superior underwater coating approved by the U.S. NAVY for the preservation of bare metal areas in high humidity and underwater environments.  The underwater hull potential survey was done at the completion of the underwater coating of bare metal areas, and utilizes a handheld silver-chloride probe measures hull potential values or the ability of the underwater hull to protect itself from corrosion.  The survey documented an increase in hull potential values in the mid-ship and bow areas of the hull. This reporting allows the ship’s engineers to monitor and track both current and historical data for hull preservation.

Seaward Marine Services, Inc. is proud to be a part of the ongoing preservation program for EX-USS MIDWAY which started in January of 2010.

Seaward Marine Services Divers took some time Friday evening on May 29^th to prepare the Naval Air sea plane ramp for the 24^th annual Breezy Point Triathlon at Naval Station Norfolk.  The event is the only triathlon in the area and is a popular race for first time and beginner triathletes because of the manageable distances.  Seaward Divers arrived Friday prior to start of the race to clean the sea plane ramp of any marine growth and debris that has accumulated on the ramp giving the athletes a safe area to enter and exit the swimming portion of the event.

Seaward employees wish all Triathletes good luck in completing the 2015 Breezy Point Triathlon.
 

Seaward Divers and Breezy Point Staff at Sea Plane Ramp

Seaward Divers readying equipment for the ramp cleaning
 

Seaward Marine divers completed hull cleaning on three JHSV class ships in Norfolk, VA, Cape Canaveral, FL, and Honolulu, HI.  Divers completed full hull cleanings on the FALL RIVER and CHOCTAW Co while completing cleaning of the water jet assembly, impellers, and sea chests on the MILLINOCKET.  All three USNS ships were completed within the contracted time estimate, which also included additional Hycote work on MILLINOCKET’s leading edges of the keel and ride control surfaces, which were mechanically prepped and the underwater paint Hycote 461 was applied to these high abrasion surfaces.  

PRE AND POST CLEAN CONDITIONS OF IMPELLERS

TYPICAL BARE METAL FOUND AND COATING REPAIR USING HYCOTE 461
 

As of April 2015, the Seaward Marine Services, Inc. NDT Division has now completed more than 100 hull surveys using the Lamp Ray® ROV, recently including three LPD class ships and two USNS ships in Norfolk, and a CG in San Diego.

LAMP RAY® is a robotic scanning system that gives a complete picture of the ships underwater hull condition including hull plate thickness, paint dry film thickness, cathodic hull potential, and visual inspection.  This is accomplished using accepted and approved techniques and practices by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and classification societies.  The ROV “is a underwater NDT laboratory” whose location is tracked using a high precision acoustic tracking system that records this data in ships coordinates with high precision (±15cm = ±6in),.all data is time stamped which permits post-survey verification and validation of data.  All of this allows NDT technicians to process and review this data and generate a survey report in an html format which uses standard internet browser to view the report.  This allows for an easy to read report thus giving the ships manager the ability to identify potential problems that can be planned for and addressed.
 

Patriot Contract Services awarded Seaward Marine Services the contract to complete the hull inspection, hull cleaning, and propeller cleaning for USNS WATSON (T-AKR-310).  Seaward divers, using the Diving Vessel "Coastal Pride", completed the 950-foot roll-on/roll-off ship in an 8-day period, of which included approximately 18 hours of multi-brush hull cleaning.  The overall tasking included the cleaning and polishing of the propellers and two bow thrusters, the cleaning of the rudders and underwater hull, and the performing of an internal underwater inspection and cleaning of all sea chests according to the requirements specified in the U.S. Navy Ships' Husbandry Manual Chapter 17 and Chapter 28, and the U.S. Navy Technical Manual Chapter 81.  Pre and post cleaning video documentation of all sections of the hull was also completed as required by PCS contract.

PRE AND POST CLEAN CONDITIONS OF SEA-CHESTS

PRE AND POST CLEAN CONDITIONS OF HULL