Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Thanks for the breakdown guest from EU and I guess like anything else some companies keep up a progressive maintenance system where some do hardly any at all wait for the inspection and then decide what to do.

[quote="Guest"]What is actually inspected? What would fail in a 5yr but not stop the vessel from sailing the previous season or seasons?[/quote]

Here is a link to the official ABS guide for Survey Rules After Construction. It makes for some (not-so) light bedtime reading...

https://ww2.eagle.org/content/dam/eagle/rules-and-guides/archives/conventional_ocean_service/2_steelvesselrules2007/part_7_e-nov07.pdf

Many items are left up to discretion of the attending Surveyor. In my experience managing shipyard periods for new vessels (<5 years old), the Surveyors were quite lenient and casually glanced at most items on the list, occasionally finding an issue that merited further discussion. Likewise, while managing the drydocking of a tanker with 15+ years, the Surveyors came aboard in their blue boiler suits, intending to dig into the nooks and crannies of the ship. Hull gauging (measuring the thickness of the steel), weldment integrity, and general plate distortion were a much higher priority. Safety systems were also checked more thoroughly. Many pieces of the survey were actually done prior to arrival at the shipyard, for instance, rafting cargo tanks to gauge plate and frame thickness and overall condition (slowly filled a cargo tank with water and an inflatable raft held two people who paddled around with their ultrasonic measurement tools).

Machinery is also inspected. Certain pieces of machinery must be disassembled and checked once every 5 years. Skin valves - the valves isolating the sea from interior piping - are removed and overhauled. The propellor(s) is removed and the tailshaft is withdrawn and measured for wear. Generally, new stern tube seals are installed at this time. The propellor will be machined if any damage is observed.

The actual time required in the drydock is only a few days if all goes well, and no major plate renewal is required. A majority of the survey can be conducted whilst the vessel is in the water, moored to a dock. Modern technology also greatly speeds up the process. Now, a diver, or remote operated vehicle, can check the underwater portion of the hull before arriving at the shipyard, reducing the likelihood of surprises once the drydock is pumped out.

Since some items are only thoroughly checked once every shipyard period, it is very possible that a problem exists, but only found when the ship and systems are gone over more in-depth in drydock. Depending on what issue is found - say steel corrosion - a ship could be sailing as normal, but then put to a stop once the drydocking shows the true condition. This has been the root cause of the demise of some Great Lakes ships in recent times...a ship trades as usual, with the company knowing the next drydocking will be expensive due to repairs needed, thus ending the career of the ship.

What is actually inspected? What would fail in a 5yr but not stop the vessel from sailing the previous season or seasons?

Several factors are at play when planning a special survey (drydocking), all requiring advance planning and coordination between interrelated parties. While it is simple to believe that a ship should go into drydock during the winter months, sometimes it is not as simple as it seems. Dock availability is the biggest factor, but so is arranging for ABS/LR and USCG/TC to attend the survey. I do not know if the Great Lakes ships are enroled in the Alternate Compliance Program with ABS, but I would venture to guess they are not. Essentially, this program allows ABS to conduct surveys of vessels with the USCG accepting the findings of ABS, reducing the need for both parties to inspect the same items twice. I do also believe the ABS Surveyors would be far more strict on Great Lakes ships given their age. Post-El Faro, and the failings of both ABS and USCG to adequately conduct thorough inspections, both groups are now holding inspections to a higher level, at least on the oceans.

Sometimes repairs or modifications will hold up the survey process. Approved drawings and scopes of work by the USCG or ABS can take some time to make it through the revision process. Solicitations for bids are required from all shipyards capable of performing the work. More paperwork requires more planning.

Likewise, during your government shutdown, USCG Marine Inspectors are furloughed. No ships are getting the annual Certificate of Inspection surveys completed at the moment. I understand a small cadre of Marine Inspectors are available, but only for limited situations. No mariners are getting credentials processed either, but that is a different topic.

Digging through the info I can find, the Clarke was drydocked at Bayship for its 5-year in May/June 2014 in order to return to service. It was originally not supposed to operate that season due to decreased demand, and of course, needing to be drydocked. Since then, the Anderson has ended up being the ship at the wall now that it needs to be drydocked to return to service.

Since Great Lakes companies almost universally use the extra year, the Clarke should head back to drydock in the first half of 2020.

Okay thanks for that information tugbosthunter much appreciated.

[quote="tugboathunter"]The Clarke is laid up in Toledo; however, it is not due for its 5-year survey. It had that done during the 2014 season in Sturgeon Bay.[/quote]

The ABS record suggests that the 5-year inspection is due March 3, 2019. That could be wrong, of course. At a minimum, if she had her last 5-year in 2014, she's due for another sometime during the upcoming season. I don't know why GLF wouldn't just take care of it during winter layup.

https://www.eagle.org/safenet/record/record_vesselsearch?Accesstype=PUBLIC&ReferrerApplication=PUBLIC

The Clarke is laid up in Toledo; however, it is not due for its 5-year survey. It had that done during the 2014 season in Sturgeon Bay.

Is the Clarke due to lay up then in Toledo this winter? Perhaps if she’s due for her 5-year this winter then maybe it could be done then at the Ironhead Marine Shipyard and Drydock at Toledo? I believe they have a drydock large enough for the Clarke to fit in. Anyone with news on her?

In past years, Great Lakes Fleet would apply for a one year extension on the required five year inspection.

It looks like the Philip R. Clarke is due for it's 5-year inspection this winter (March 3rd to be precise). I haven't seen her on the list of boats laying up at Sturgeon Bay, Superior, or Erie. What other port has a graving dock large enough to accommodate her? Also, any word on whether GLF actually plans on performing the inspection this winter?