Seaward Marine Services divers traveled to Aker Philadelphia Shipyard to perform an underwater hull inspection that included internal inspections of the sea gratings and surface preparation and application of HYCOTE 151 underwater paint system to hull 019, MV Liberty Bay.

Divers completed internal inspections of the main cooling sea chests along with inspection of the bow thruster, bilge keels, propeller, and rudder.  During inspection of the underwater hull, divers located then prepared bare metal areas for the application of HYCOTE 151 underwater paint a unique 2-part epoxy coating that is specifically designed to be applied in wet environments.

Seaward Marine Services has applied over 200,000 square feet of HYCOTE products; HYCOTE u/w paint expels water from between the coating and the substrate that ensures an excellent adhesion.  HYCOTE products can be applied to cathodic shielding material, heavily pitted surfaces, and splash-zone areas. 
 

Seaward Divers on station at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard

 

Seaward Marine Services completed ongoing intake improvements to the Dominion Power Surry Power Station culminating in all eight intake structures to receive new stop-log seal plate assemblies.  For each intake structure over 18 mechanics and divers along with Dominion Power employees and supplemental staff in support participated in the removal of the old seal plate and trash-rack retaining channel.  The removal and replacement required 13 shifts totaling over 2800 man-hours to complete this process.

Seaward divers installed the new seal plate assembly by core drilling and installing approved inserts with underwater adhesive compound.  Divers then completed a foreign materials sweep by cleaning the trash racks and vacuuming away all debris from the intake structures.  With support of Seaward Marine personnel, Dominion employees then lowered the intake structure stop-logs into the new stop-log guides to ensure proper fit and a positive seal.

New seal plate assembly installation 

Diver checking fit of seal plate assembly 

Divers preparing to enter water start core drilling operations

 

Seaward Marine Services was tasked to perform a general inspection, a Visual Inspection, a Video Inspection and an Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement Survey, using DataScan^SM, of an Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) at one of the country’s largest nuclear power facilities.  The weeklong project with mobilization from Seaward Marine’s Norfolk Virginia office included entry into the 300,000 gallon AST by divers dressed in total enclosure suits to ensure no contamination of the tanks cargo.  Because of tank depth, in excess of the no decompression limits, under Seaward Safe Diver Standards divers had to change out at regular intervals ensuring diver safety.

The first order of business was to vacuum sediments from the bottom of the liquid filled tank to ensure a thorough visual and video inspection of the tanks interior surfaces. Visual inspection revealed a faulty tank level indicator system which was promptly repaired and calibration procedures performed.

Next, divers installed a reference grid system within the tank in which to perform a very accurate ultrasonic thickness survey using DataScan^SM. The ultrasonic thickness survey,  performed on a one foot by one foot grid pattern producing a nearly 100% probability of detection, collected over 530,000 individual thickness readings, several of which were below the thinning criteria established prior to the inspection.  The thickness data will be used to formulate repair or replacement estimates and on subsequent surveys to determine tank life cycle estimates.

The inspection and survey performed by American Society of Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT) certified personnel and procedures came in under schedule and under budget allowing the tank and facility to continue with uninterrupted operational scheduling. A second tank, at the same facility is scheduled for survey during the plants next outage.

Seaward Marine’s DataScan^SM Ultrasonic Measurement System provides a thorough analysis of the condition of metal in the region of the measurement, as opposed to single-point readings of metal thickness. Seaward’s development of an automated system that compensates for roughness so that all areas of the reading location can be quickly and accurately measured.
 

 

Seaward Marine Services was tasked to perform an general inspection, a Visual Technical Inspection (VTI) and shaft to stave bearing measurements (STSR). The period of performance was February 3-17, 2014.  Seaward personnel arrived in Everett WA with clear skies and average temperatures for that area.  During the week, a Pacific Northwest storm arrived dropping day time temperatures to 19 degrees with heavy snow flurries and water temperatures dropped to 43 degrees.  Divers continued to perform their tasks under these conditions and during the initial inspection of the running gear, damage was found on a propeller and shaft.  The propeller damage was included in a VTI report and submitted to NSWCCD for review and repair recommendations. In accordance with a NAVSEA 00C directive and CNAP TYCOM direction, the bare metal on the shaft was tasked for repair utilizing Hycote 151. All damage was repaired and documented in accordance with NAVSEA 00C contract requirements and all work completed on time allowing the ship to resume their operational schedule.

Everett Crew, Mobilized from Seaward San Diego
 

Bare Metal found on Shaft

Surface Preparation for coating

Hycote 151 Application

Blade Damage found

Cover Plate Missing
 

Seaward Marine Services was contracted with Greenpeace (Amsterdam) to perform a full hull cleaning of the SY RAINBOW WARRIOR in San Diego, December 27, 2013.  The Ship painted with ECOSPEED; an environmentally safe underwater ship hull coating system designed to be extremely durable and to conform to IMO’s convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems.  Seaward Marine’s pre-hull inspection indicated that marine growth was 50% with heavy oysters and hard growth.  Seaward Marine utilized the SCAMP multi-brush hull cleaning machine with a modified brush to remove the marine growth.  The paint scheme held up well to the cleaning effort.  The Ship reported that speed and performance were realized as a direct result of the cleaning.
 

Seaward’s D/V JACQUELINE alongside Greenpeace vessel 

Pre-cleaning of Sea-Chest

Post-Cleaning of Sea-Chest

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