Customer's Challenge

A client operating a pipe-laying vessel faced an urgent need to repair its key pipe-laying equipment—the stinger. The stinger, exposed to heavy loading and harsh sea conditions, had suffered damage to the bushes in the brackets and the locking load cell pins, which are crucial for holding the entire structure together. With the vessel in the middle of preparations for another charter, the client could not afford the downtime to send the vessel to a shipyard for repairs.

Solution

Metal Machines was engaged to carry out the stinger repair onboard the vessel, deploying a team of 8 skilled personnel, including a project engineer, to coordinate the repair and ensure it met the demanding schedule. Job risk assessments were meticulously drafted and approved by the vessel’s safety committee to ensure the repair could proceed 24/7. Some activities were carried out just above sea level, making safety a top priority.

The stinger is composed of 5 connected segments, making alignment and precise machine setup critical to the success of the repair. After alignment, each segment’s 8 holes were machined to the required size, followed by the fitting and welding of bushes. Final machining was then completed to fit the new locking load cell pins to ensure structural integrity.

Benefit

Traditionally, such repairs would require docking the vessel at a port, resulting in significant downtime and increased costs. By conducting the repair offshore, Metal Machines helped the client avoid these delays and expenses. The entire stinger repair process took only 5 days, allowing the vessel to continue its charter preparations on schedule. Metal Machines’ highly trained offshore team ensured the job was completed efficiently and effectively, providing the client with a reliable and time-saving solution.