Gibdock Completes Complex BWTS Retrofit
Gibraltar-based Gibdock has been gearing up to meet increased shipowner demand for ballast water treatment system (BWTS) retrofits and has recently completed a complex BWTS retrofit on board the 179m, 34,500dwt bulk carrier Zambesi.
The 2013-built, DNV GL classed vessel, owned by Hamburg-based John T. Essberger, arrived in Gibraltar on June 4 for a month-long overhaul program. The vessel departed the yard on July 5 with its new ballast water treatment installed and ready for commissioning, having spent 16 days in Gibdock’s No. 1 Drydock, and the rest of the time alongside.
Gibdock technicians carried out all pipework and preparations on board, before assembling and installing the owner-supplied UV-type ballast water treatment system. The yard worked closely with UAE-based ballast water treatment retrofit engineering specialist Aries Marine, which supervised this element of the drydocking schedule.
Shiprepair manager, Juan Piñero, said, “This was a complex retrofit, and our engineering staff and pipefitting team rose to the challenge magnificently and completed the works to the client’s complete satisfaction. With this project we have gained further valuable experience in ballast water treatment retrofits, which will hold us in good stead for the future, as a growing number of owners look to carry out this type of work to meet IMO requirements.”
Now that the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) has entered into force, more shipowners are actively looking to install BWTS aboard their vessels. Gibdock, which has been gearing up to meet the demand said it is in active discussions with several potential clients.
In addition to the ballast water treatment retrofit, Gibdock carried out a wide range of repair and maintenance items on Zambesi, including a total of 2,500m2 of blasting and painting on the vessel’s topside and underwater hull areas. The yard also carried out some cargo hold treatments, that involved spot blasting in way of the coamings and upper hoppers.
Mechanical works carried out on Zambesi included the removal and refitting of the ship’s propeller, bonding of seals and the removal of the tailshaft and intermediate shaft. Other elements of the scope of work included overhauling the ship’s main engines; ultrasound cleaning of the air coolers; the removal of the windlass for maintenance work in the workshop; overhauling the ship’s mooring winch and sea valves; and carrying out steel repairs in the ballast water tank area.