Seaward Marine Services Mobile Unit 4 got the call for an immediate need to clean the underwater hull of MV Frisia Bonn for Independent Container Lines of Wilmington, NC. Our customer said the ship was experiencing 20% “slippage” referring to efficiency lost in the thrust of the propeller. In the case of MV Frisia Bonn this was due to moderate marine growth on the hull and propeller causing more shaft turns required to make desired speed which dramatically increases the fuel consumption rate.
 
Independent Container Lines authorized the work on Wednesday 10/1 in the afternoon, the crew mobilized out of Norfolk VA on Thursday, and met the ship at the terminal 0700 on Friday 10/3 to begin dive operations. Despite diving in a hostile environment with a very swift non-stop current Seaward Mobile 4  crew pushed through continuously for 20 hours to get the hull cleaning complete and the ship underway as soon as possible. “Thanks very much for your quick response and hard work; I understand the conditions, at times, were less than favorable” said  Rob Frazier Sr. Director US Ports & Warehouse Operations Independent Container Line.
 

 

Seaward Marine Services completed underwater inspections and cleaning on the USS NAUTILUS (SSN-571), the first nuclear powered submarine was launched in 1954 and the first ship to reach the geographic North Pole- 90° north had an extensive and pioneering role in the groundbreaking uses of nuclear power.  NAUTILUS was decommissioned on March 3, 1980 after a 25-year career.  In April of 1986, NAUTILUS joined the Submarine Force Museum in Groton CT. as the Historic Ship NAUTILUS.

Seaward Divers used the multi-bush machine SCAMP to clean the underwater hull followed by Divers with single brush machines cleaning smaller areas then inspecting and photo documenting all underwater appendages and the overall condition of the hull.
 

Seaward Dive Crew starting work on Historic Ship NAUTILUS

Diver running SCAMP at waterline on Historic Ship NAUTILUS
 

Divers replaced a four-foot Impress Current Cathodic Protection Anode on a Navy Ship in accordance with NAVSEA UWSHM Chap-19 “Cathodic Protection Systems”.  As a qualified contractor for the U.S. Navy, Seaward Marine Services is required to meet stringent NAVSEA Director of Ocean Engineering Supervisor of Salvage and Diving requirements.  The anode was found to be inactive and damaged during August 13 inspections and scheduled to be replaced by the SEA 00C representative, Seaward divers started repairs August 20 and completing repairs the following day.  After the initial installation and operational test by Ships Force, divers used HYCOTE 461 to replace the insulating dielectric shielding that was removed when replacing the anode. 

Damaged Anode

New anode installed using HYCOTE 461

 

Seaward Marine Services is invited to the 10^th annual Maritime Heritage Conference to participate in an education session by explaining the benefits of underwater ships husbandry “How Technology can Postpone or Predict Dry-docking”.  Seaward will discuss hull surveys using LampRay® that can document Hull thickness, paint thickness, hull potential, and video document the underwater hull while tracking its position in the water resulting in a comprehensive hull condition assessment with accuracy within +/- 6”.  Maintaining and repairing ships underwater hull will also be discussed including the benefits of hull cleaning, underwater painting, and Impressed Current Cathodic Protection.

The education session will also include opening words from John Elliker of Nauticus and a technical presentation of LampRay by Edwin Slate, engineering consultant of Control Solutions.
 

 

Marine Transport Lines, Inc. called in Seaward Marine Services to support the “TURBO” activation of M/V CAPE DOMINGO (T-AKR-5053).  Seaward divers mobilized from Norfolk, VA to Charleston, SC to clean the underwater hull within a 48-hour window before the 681 ft. ship was to get underway to assess the crew and ship on readiness.  Divers arrived on station mid-day Thursday August 14 and immediately deployed the equipment needed to clean the underwater hull, bow and stern thrusters, and propeller.  Divers completed all work within a 20-hour period so the ship could make its scheduled underway event mid-day Saturday.