Recently, SPS Technology Network Partner Asian Sealand Offshore & Marine (ASOM) undertook offshore repairs of FPSO Berantai in Malaysia from November 2024 to early 2025. In total, 91 m² [985 ft²] of SPS was utilised across 66 cavities, including the:

• Engine room side shell
• Poop deck
• Ventilation fan room

SPS delivers more for Engine Room Side Shell Repairs

• Corrosion Resistance:

  • Sandwich Plate System offers better longevity than traditional stiffened panels.

• Quick Repair/Retrofit:

  • Traditional Crop and Renew of corroded side shell plates creates openings in damaged areas, leading to concerns about hull integrity at sea and the client’s operations. In contrast, reinforcing the side shell with SPS panels is more efficient and does not generate waste.

• Improved Structural Integrity:

  • SPS provides high-impact resistance and excellent fatigue performance, both crucial in engine rooms.

• Vibration Damping:

  • Additionally, SPS’s elastomer core is proven to reduce vibrations from engines and machinery, improving comfort and equipment life.

• No Need for Full Steel Replacement:

  • • Corroded steel can form one side of a repair with SPS.
    • SPS plate is welded around the perimeter, encapsulating the damaged area.

• Structural Reinforcement:

  • • Once cured, Sandwich Plate System restores or even enhances structural strength.

• Minimised Disruption:

  • • Our partners can install SPS with minimal hot work.
    • Faster than cutting and replacing steel plates.
    • Accommodation areas or tanks can often remain in service during the repair.

• Improved Safety and Durability:

  • • SPS panels are resistant to further corrosion.
    • Creates a sealed, water-tight barrier.

• Cost-Effective:

  • • No need to remove insulation or reroute systems.
    • Saves on labor, time, and material.

Importantly, several factors in the harsh marine engine room environment lead to corrosion over time:

• High Humidity and Salt Exposure

  • The marine atmosphere, especially around the side shell, contains high salt and moisture levels, accelerating corrosion.

• Chemical Exposure

  • Engine rooms may expose the side shell to oils, fuels, cleaning agents, and chemicals, which can degrade protective coatings.

• Thermal Stress

  • Continuous temperature changes from engines and machinery can cause expansion and contraction, potentially creating micro-cracks in coatings.

• Poor Maintenance or Coating Failures

  • Suppose protective coatings on steel faceplates are damaged or improperly maintained. In that case, corrosion can initiate and spread, especially at the corners and scallop hole areas of the stiffeners attached to the side shell.

• Galvanic Corrosion

  • If dissimilar metals are in contact (e.g., pipes or fittings) and exposed to moisture, galvanic corrosion can occur.

Above all, if damage from corrosion deterioration is present in your engine room, or virtually anywhere on your asset, Sandwich Plate System offers a non-disruptive solution for offshore FPSO repairs. Indeed, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance recognised sandwich panel repairs in Guideline AMPP SP21507-2022 , setting the industry standard for repairs using steel or aluminum sandwich panels.

Our engineers are available to discuss your challenges, please Contact Us.