Gibdock completes BWTS refit on German bulk carrier

AUGUST 28, 2018 — Gibraltar’s Gibdock recently completed a complex ballast water treatment system retrofit onboard the 179m, 34,500 dwt bulk carrier Zambesi. Built in 2013, DNV GL-classed vessel, owned by Hamburg-based John T. Essberger, arrived in Gibraltar on June 4 for a month long program of works. 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 the necessary pipework and preparations onboard, before assembling and installing the owner-supplied UV-type ballast water treatment system. The shipyard worked closely on this project with Aries Marine, a UAE-based specialist in ballast water treatment retrofit engineering, which supervised this element of the drydocking schedule.

Shiprepair manager Juan Piñero, says, “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.”

Alongside the ballast water treatment retrofit, Gibdock carried out a wide range of repair and maintenance items on Zambesi. This included 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. Juan Piñero, says, “This was a very demanding operation as it involved working in a very narrow space. Through careful preparation and planning, our engineers were able to carry out the necessary works successfully within the timescale required.”

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.

The John T Essberger Dry Cargo Division operates a fleet that includes self-trimming bulk carriers as well as both geared and gearless container vessels. Gibdock has in recent years achieved considerable success in securing ship repair work from German ship owners, and the Zambesi contract continues that strong track record.