Korea Line Bulk Carriers

 

Project Type

Tank Top Reinstatement

Location

Shanhaiguan Shipyard

Date

2009

Team

Shanhaiguan Shipyard

©shipspotting.com, C Parnell, M Wei

Five Korea Line Corporation Capesize bulk carriers were reinstated with over 10,000 m2 [107,640 ft²] of SPS tank top plating. The projects were completed at Shanhaiguan shipyard in 2009, starting with the Silver Bell in January of that year.

The initial 3,532 m2 of SPS tank top reinstatement was installed on the Silver Bell in just ten days, despite the North China winter and average temperatures ranging from 3oC to -6oC. The success of this project led the Korea Line Corporation to award the team further projects on the Marigold, Golden Bell, Camellia and Anemone.

Silver Bell at Sea
Marigld at Sea
Korea Line Corp Bulk Carrier at sea
Tank top reinstatement using SPS about Korea Line assets
Tank top cleaning being reinstatement with SPS
Tank top during reinstatement with SPS
Korea Line tank top reinstatement using SPS

SPS Tank Top Reinstatement for Korean Register Classed Vessels

These SPS projects were the first to be completed on Korean Register (KR) Classed Vessels. SPS tank top reinstatement was originally developed for bulk carriers and was included in the first class submission for the Silver Bell. As a result, the team was able to provide rapid approval services for the other four vessels.

Silver Bell
Area: 3,532 m2
Productivity: 10 days/ 353 m2 per day
Date: January 2009

Golden Bell
Area: 1,567 m2
Productivity*: 8 days/ 195 m2 per day
Date: March 2009

Marigold
Area: 1,390 m2
Productivity*: 10 days/ 139 m2 per day
Date: March 2009

Camellia
Area: 1,595 m2
Productivity*: 7 days/ 227 m2 per day
Date: June 2009

Anemone
Area: 2,397 m2
Productivity*: 9 days/ 266 m2 per day
Date: August 2009

*Productivity refers to the SPS injection process.

The team worked closely with Korea Line and the shipyard to ensure the SPS tank top reinstatement was carried out in accordance with the Class-approved application procedure and with minimal impact on concurrent works.

”We chose to use SPS Overlay on five of our bulk carriers because it is a fast repair that delivers flatter, longer-lasting tank tops, and the results improve our operational costs.

Mr Y S JeongVice President, Korea Line Corporation

SPS keeps vessels in service longer

The team was lucky enough to revisit some of the ships and see the tank top reinstatements seven years on. Satisfied that the repairs using SPS kept their vessels in service, Korea Line had this to say:

”KLC has used SPS for tank top reinstatement of our cape size bulk carriers. Since the successful first project on the MV Silver Bell, we have reinstated the tank tops of most of our cape size fleet using SPS. Seven years have passed since the first project and the SPS tank top is still perfectly flat. The benefits of SPS, in providing a very robust impact resistant surface, reducing discharge times and reducing maintenance costs, have proven to be exactly as [SPS Technology] presented to us. We would not hesitate to recommend SPS tank tops for reinstatement or to be applied on a new build.

Mr C M ParkVice President, Korea Line Corporation

The Benefits of SPS Tank Top Repairs

SPS repairs are simpler and quicker than conventional ‘crop and renew’ techniques. On these projects for Korea Line, SPS eliminated the requirement to clean FO tanks and for overhead welding, as well as:

  • Reduced the repair schedule for all five vessels
  • Simplified the repair procedure and minimised labour requirements
  • Delivered strengthened surfaces that are highly resistant to impact loads
  • Avoided the need to clean Fuel Oil tanks

 

Tank top repairs using SPS have superb impact resistance characteristics. They are less prone to deformation from cargo handling operations, and ‘dishing’ is almost eliminated. This leads to improved cargo handling, reduced turnaround times, and enhanced operational economics for the Korea Line Corporation.