Emergency Underwater Hull Repair for Cargo Vessel

Emergency Underwater Hull Repair for Cargo Vessel

• Client: Atlantic Star Cargo Lines

• Location: Port of Savannah, Georgia

• Duration: 5 days (August 2024)

• Scope of Work:
  A Class 2 underwater inspection revealed a 1.5-meter hull crack in the aft starboard section, causing minor seawater ingress. Our team was contracted for an emergency underwater welding operation to avoid dry-docking and minimize operational delays.

• Execution:

  • Conducted pre-dive safety checks and risk assessment.

  • Installed cofferdam around affected area for visibility.

  • Performed magnetic particle testing (MT) to assess damage.

  • Used shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) with waterproof electrodes for patching.

  • Re-inspected with ultrasonic testing (UT) for weld integrity.

• Outcome:
  Completed the repair in 4.5 days, avoiding estimated $150,000 in downtime. Client resumed shipping operations with no further issues reported.