Repair Network News

Singapore’s shipyards are looking to recent investments in capacity, design and newly acquired technology to combat order declines after a decades-long offshore buildup. Sembcorp and peer Keppel are making the most of partnerships in FLNG and showing signs they’ll be okay through the downturn, helped by their gas-hungry Australasian backyard and renewed ties with old charterer parties and suppliers. With drilling contractors unable to pay for the offshore rigs they’ve ordered, Singapore’s heavyweight yards have had to defer deliveries and become defacto rig owners.

ABB Turbocharging said it has made major investments at key service locations through 2015 resulting in tangible enhancements to its global maintenance and repair network for 2016 and beyond. The company opened completely new service locations in Amman, Jordan, as well as Montevideo, Uruguay. Service Stations were also upgraded in Australia; and facilities enhanced for customers in China, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, and the U.S. “Maximizing availability and uptime for customers’ applications is a core ABB Turbocharging service commitment.

LNG1 (L) Ltd. (PFLNG) to provide maintenance services for PETRONAS’ two forthcoming floating LNG vessels. A Contract Exchange ceremony for the award was held in Kuala  Lumpur on Thursday, 24 March 2016 between PFLNG and SKGE. Under the agreement, SKGE will provide PETRONAS with complete maintenance services for their fleet of twelve gas turbines as well as their fleet of GE compressors, generators and electric motors to be installed on their floating LNG vessels. These maintenance activities will be fully executed by the joint venture’s growing pool of local qualified field service engineers and diagnostic experts. The PETRONAS floating LNG vessels are examples of the emerging trend in the industry for smaller…

Electric motors are among the highest in reliability incident reports, said SKF Canada, noting that for many companies, electric motor failures lead to a continual cycle of costly repairs and unplanned downtime - factors that can hurt the bottom line. Since 40% to 70% of motor failures are related to bearings, it's no surprise that high-quality bearings are key for reliable motors. SKF Canada announced it has recently launched the SKF Certified Rebuilder program for electric motor repair and four shops have already achieved the certification: GMR Electric motors, Saskatoon, SK; Les Entreprises LM, Montreal QC; Continental Electric, Edmonton, AB and GPR Industries, Grande Prairie, AB.

Vickers PLC has recently made a major commitment to the marine market, most recently with its acquisition of Norwegian propulsion company Ulstein Holding for $476.8 million. Maritime Week contacted Vickers PLC CEO, Baron Paul Buysse for his take on this venture, as well as his inside strategies and goals for the future of the new company. MW: Why the heavy investment in marine at this point in time? Where do you see growth opportunities in short-term? Long-term? PB: After the divestment of Rolls Royce and Cosworth, Vickers plc was left with three strong engineering divisions: Defense, Turbine Components and Marine. In the Marine division we have very strong brand names such as Kamewa, Rauma, Aquamaster, Brown Brothers and Michell Bearings.