Ship Husbandry Services Vizhinjam Port, Kerala

Ships husbandry or Vessel husbandry involves all aspects of maintenance, cleaning, and general upkeep of the hull, rigging, and equipment of a ship. It may also be used to relate to aspects of maintenance that are not specifically covered by the technical departments. The term is used in naval, non-military, and merchant shipping but naval vessel husbandry may also be used for specific reference to naval vessels.

Ships husbandry diving

Underwater ships husbandry can be financially profitable when it eliminates the need for dry-dock repairs or extends the interval between dry-dockings and reduces the time a ship is required to stay in dry-dock.

Underwater ship husbandry includes the following operations, generally done by commercial divers, though some can be done by ROVs or robotic machinery.

Underwater hull cleaning is done to remove fouling organisms which increase drag and thus reduce top speed and increase energy consumption. The entire hull or portions of it, such as propellers, shafts, and thrusters, may be cleaned. Prior to cleaning, the underwater hull may be inspected, and the quantity of cleaning done may be determined by the inspection results. Divers can clean the hull with hand-held or self-propelled mechanical brushing equipment, as well as water jets or scrapers.

Fouling surveys, examination of known or suspected damage to the structure, equipment, or coatings, and inspection of repairs are all examples of non-destructive testing and inspection. Several methods may be used, including visual inspection, videotape recording, and magnetic particle testing.

Underwater painting is done to fix paintwork after repairs, or where small areas of paint have been damaged or have worn out. The diver uses a brush or a roller to apply the appropriate paints.

Fiberglass repair can be used to repair the hull or the protective covering on the propeller shaft. Repair of fiberglass shaft coating is generally done in a dry habitat mounted over the shaft and allowing access through the open bottom for the divers. The shaft is cleaned before a new coat of sheathing is applied.

Welding takes place either in a submerged dry habitat or in a wet environment. Dry circumstances allow for higher-quality welds since the cooling rate is slower and hydrogen embrittlement is less of an issue. Scrapers, chipping hammers, hand-held brushes, and pneumatic or hydraulic grinding equipment are used to clean weld surfaces. Minor repairs to the rubber coating of sonar domes can be done by divers.
This requires removing damaged rubber, cleaning the surface, and applying a rubber patch with the appropriate adhesive.

Impact on the environment

Several ship husbandry activities, notably hull cleaning operations that produce antifouling chemicals, will discharge some amount of toxic material into the ocean. Significant quantities of copper and zinc are released during underwater hull washing, which can have a negative impact on the environment. Alien bio-fouling organisms may also be released during this process.

Diving under the hull

With no direct vertical access to the surface, the underside of the hull is an overhead habitat. As a result, it poses an entrapment threat, particularly on big boats where low natural light or muddy water make it difficult to see the path to the hull’s side. The difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that the bottoms of the biggest ships are typically flat and featureless. Most authorities only allow surface-supplied diving for this type of job since it not only protects the diver’s breathing gas supply but also offers a guidance to the exit point.

High levels of environmental contaminants have been related to the usage of mechanical bottom scouring systems that are directed around the hull surface by a diver and scrub it with rotating brushes. If the clearance is little and the tidal range is considerable, there is also a risk of crushing.

We are constantly ready to provide our customers with high-quality husbandry services. Ship Husbandry services are something we specialize in. We offer crew handling and exchange, crew welfare, spare clearance and delivery, bunker fuels and lubricants, communication assistance etc. So if you are in need of expert ship husbandry services then Dowins Resources Pvt Ltd can provide you with the most appropriate services.

When a ship is in port, it may require far more than conventional ship agency services. Husbandry services are frequently required, which may need the engagement of a different agent than the one conducting the port call. When a vessel is docked, it is critical that the husbandry services be provided on schedule and in a manner that is properly coordinated with the vessel’s operations.

Our Husbandry Services include:

• Crew handling – meet & welcome, hotel bookings, shore pass arrangements etc.
• Crew welfare – doctor, dentist, mail, web connectivity, mobile and prepaid phone calling cards
• Spares clearance and delivery
• Inward & outward clearance
• Liaison with local authorities
• Follow-up exercises, sessions with workshops, contractors and project workers etc.
• Bunker fuels and lubricants
• Communication assistance

We have major relations with suppliers, port customs & immigration authorities in Vizhinjam port Kerala hence guaranteeing that client’s needs will be given preference, anywhere they go.