Yiulian Dockyard expands repair capabilities

Yiulian Dockyard Hong Kong in China.

Yiulian Dockyard Hong Kong in China has completed a facility upgrade and workforce expansion while adopting a new digital pipe fabrication process in cooperation with Irwin Ltd., aimed at reducing repair timelines for vessel owners.

Yiulian Dockyard, which focuses on unplanned repairs and maintenance work for vessels operating in southern China container ports and the Pearl River Delta, is now using digital twin technology to support the fabrication and installation of replacement seawater piping.

According to General Manager Zhong Ying, the yard’s location offers a key advantage for vessels requiring unexpected repairs.

“To enter many dockyards in China, vessels may first need to discharge cargo,” Zhong said. “In Hong Kong, vessels can come alongside while still laden, helping owners avoid the costs associated with cargo discharge and reloading.”

Under the new arrangement, Irwin engineers conduct onboard surveys using the company’s AutoMet FAB system to create a digital model of existing piping systems. The process captures measurements and alignment data that can be used to fabricate replacement spools based on a vessel’s actual configuration rather than original drawings.

The digital model is transferred to Irwin’s pipe manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, where replacement PE-lined spools are fabricated and delivered to the yard for installation. According to the companies, the process can eliminate the need for on-site fabrication and reduce hot work in machinery spaces.

The approach may be particularly useful on older vessels where existing piping systems differ from original plans due to years of service, modifications or component wear.

For larger renewal projects, surveys can be completed before a vessel enters the yard, allowing replacement spools to be fabricated in advance of docking. For smaller repair scopes, the companies said replacement piping can typically be manufactured and delivered within four to seven days following the onboard survey.

The PE-lined piping supplied through the program is ABS type approved and is designed for seawater service applications.

Zhong said the partnership is part of a broader effort to reduce repair timelines and improve project planning for vessel owners calling at the yard.