Innovative Tank Repair Solution Overcomes Extreme Limitations
PROBLEM
Through wall defects, about halfway up the shell were restricting this fuel tanks’ storage capacity. With a ship due to dock the following week, a rapid repair was essential to recover the full storage potential of the tank.
The fuel tank could not be emptied and so repair methods had to avoid hot works and sparks.
However, the real challenge was the extended “cold snap” in this particular winter. Predictions were that the weather would not improve until 2 weeks after the ship was due, and most epoxy materials do not cure below 5°C.
SOLUTION
RU Coated proposed a heating pad that complied with all site restrictions but had never been used before.
We conducted extensive tests at our workshop to determine the viability for installation of the pads, and proved that the work was possible despite all limitations.
We completed the repair with materials that could accommodate minimal preparation, despite daytime highs of only 2°C, and with 3 days to spare before the ship docked to refill the fuel tank.
