Victaulic Helps Refit Fire-Stricken Vessel

Victaulic, is supporting sea cadets in Hellevoetsluis, the Netherlands, as they repair and refit the Zeefakkel, which suffered serious fire damage in an arson attack last October.  

The company has donated 25 light-weight galvanised Style 75 flexible couplings to replace ones used nearly 30 years ago to connect 100mm piping for the sewage lines on board. The cadets are carrying out the work themselves under the supervision of retired Dutch Navy employee, Rob van Houten, who has knowledge of Victaulic systems used on Dutch Navy ships.

A former Navy ship built in 1949, the Zeefakkel was previously used to carry out hydrographical studies in the North Sea and as a technical school for training nautical officers.  Hellevoetsluis Sea Cadets Corps bought the vessel in 2003.

During a major retrofit at the Dutch Navy’s Rijkswerf Shipyard in Den Helder in 1984, Victaulic products were used for the ship’s sewage lines.  The original coupling housings  fitted then withstood the intense heat of the blaze in October 2011 and held the pipes in place. The couplings are being replaced now to ensure that the elastomer gaskets contained within the housings, which help form a water-tight seal in the pipe joint, offer total reliability.

Victaulic sales engineer, Bart Vandedrinck, said:  “We’re delighted to sponsor the sea cadets by donating products to help them restore their ship.  Because joining pipework using Victaulic couplings is quick, easy and safe, the cadets will be able to do the installation themselves – which will make it all the more rewarding for them. After the refit they will have a piping system that lasts the future life of the vessel.”

Work to restore the Zeefakkel is set to be complete in September and a celebratory sea trip is planned.