Solstad CSV Gets Propulsion Overhaul at Gibdock
Gibraltar’s Gibdock shipyard has completed its scope of work on Solstad Shipping’s Normand Cutter, a 127-meter-long, 10,979grt construction support vessel (CSV) that left the yard on June 29 following a 22-day drydock program, which included an overhaul of its entire propulsion system.
According to Gibdock , torway-based Solstad has become a regular customer, entrusting the yard with work on a number of high-tech offshore vessels over the past decade. In fact the 2001-built Normand Cutter is a repeat visitor to the yard, having previously docked at Gibdock in April 2011 for its last five-year special survey.
The scope of work commissioned by Solstad for Normand Cutter included maintenance and repairs to key components of its propulsion system. Its five Brunvoll thrusters were removed and transported to the yard’s workshops, where they were stripped down and overhauled before being returned to the ship and reinstalled. Similarly, the vessel’s two tailshafts and CPP propeller hubs were withdrawn and overhauled, as were the two rudders. The rudder tiller flaps were removed, machined and refurbished as part of this process. In addition, the two gearboxes, port and starboard, were also overhauled.
Gibdock also carried out a range of standard drydocking and survey items, including painting, valve repairs and refurbishment, minor steel repairs and pipework. Jonathan Pocock, Gibdock’s ship manager for Normand Cutter, said, “It was a challenge to carry out this project within the 21-day drydock time allocated, particularly given the amount of work required to overhaul the propulsion system, but we completed the task to the owner’s satisfaction.”
Once out of drydock, Normand Cutter remained at the yard for crane testing, up to a SWL of 330 metric-tons. This was carried out by Waterweights, of Holland, in partnership with Gibdock.
Gibdock said it has secured a number of offshore vessel projects this year, despite the challenging market conditions in the offshore sector. At the time of Normand Cutter’s departure, three more offshore vessels were in the yard.
“By focussing on QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety and the Environment) issues, which are a top priority for offshore vessel operators, and reliable on time delivery, we have been able to take full advantage of our favorable geographic location to serve this market, as companies mobilize and demobilize assets,” said Gibdock managing director, Richard Beards. “Increasingly offshore operators in the Mediterranean and West Africa view Gibraltar not just as a shipyard, but as an offshore base to support their activities in this part of the world. On that basis we are optimistic about securing further offshore work in the second half of 2016.”