Hydrauvision Piping saves dredger in Singapore
Hydrauvision Piping manufactures high-quality piping, which will resist very high pressures. Often, these concern thick-walled versions, made from stainless steel or a mixture of steel types. ‘If a water pipe leaks, you may get wet. But if a crack develops in a piece of hydraulic piping, you’d better keep out of the way!’
Hydrauvision Piping’s high-quality products fall in quite another category than water pipes and gas lines. They are very strong and durable. ‘Couplings are considered the weak links in a system and should therefore be extra strong and reliable. The couplings are welded and an X-ray is made of each welding connection between pipe, flange and coupling to make sure there are no microscopic cracks present.’
Multiple leakages
One of the sectors in which Hydrauvision operates is the dredging sector. Here, piping requires specific attention corresponding to the environment in which it is applied; it should withstand outside air, salt water, extreme temperatures, and other severe circumstances. And, more important even than the quality of the tubing is the quality of the couplings.
That is why all major dredging companies are among the company’s clientèle.
One of these companies approached Hydrauvision Piping for a ship moored in Singapore. Hydrauvision’s advice was obtained on the basis of earlier projects regarding the installation and replacement of specialist hydraulic high-pressure piping. ‘As it turned out, there were multiple leakages in the piping, which resulted in a hazardous situation.’ With a length of 144m, a width of 28m, and a hopper capacity of 17,000m3, the ship was among the larger dredgers.
Mapping out the situation
Experienced personnel of Hydrauvision Piping travelled to Singapore to map out the ship’s situation regarding the leakages. ‘Based on this, we presented a quotation for the part replacement and modification of the piping concerned. Because of the lack of safety provisions in place, it was impossible to measure the entire situation. Fortunately, a few months later, the ship moored in Dunkirk, where we were able to take definitive measurements.’
Prefabrication in Yerseke
After the customer had granted Hydrauvision the order, the division Piping started prefabricating the piping work. Altogether, three people at the Yerseke subsidiary have been working on this project fulltime for two weeks. After manufacturing, the piping was flushed and pressed. Flushing was done with oil of purity class up to NAS 5 and was carried out using a flushing unit by the division Hydrauvision Rental.
Extensive testing
In addition, a non-destructive test (NDT) was performed, whereby the welding connections between pipe and flange were investigated by means of X-rays.
After these X-rays, a penetrant test took place, whereby the outer layer was checked for cracks. When it had been confirmed that everything was up to par, the pipes were taken to the paint shop, where they were coated with three layers of spray-paint. This coating is seawaterproof. In fact, its quality is thus high that it is suitable for offshore applications. Subsequently, everything was packaged and taken to the customer’s warehouse.’
Ready for use in customer’s warehouse
The prefabricated parts are now ready for use in the customer’s warehouse. They will be taken to the ship when it will dock. The customer will look after this shipment. In the meantime, Hydrauvision Piping has a work container standing by with all important tools and accessories. ‘We do not know until the very last moment where docking will be taking place. This may be in Europe, or elsewhere in the world.’ In the meantime, the gigantic warehouse of the customer’s is filled with equipment and materials from various companies so that the whole ship can be done up within an as short as possible time span from the moment of docking.
Flushing
When docking starts, flushing needs to take place. After all, an existing piping system is being broken into. This is also done by means of one of Hydrauvision Rental’s flushing units. During docking, four people will be working on this job for four weeks. And all the time, service engineers from the Hydrauvision Service division are standing by to be called in when necessary. ‘This project is a fine example of the intensive collaboration among the different Hydrauvision divisions’.
