US shipyard replaces tug propulsion shaft during major drydocking

The shipyard completed the work within 17 days, enabling the 27-m tugboat to return to supporting a dredging project on the US east coast.

Drydocking work included major steel work and running gear repairs, blasting and painting work and preparing the tug for the renewal of its US Coast Guard (USCG) certificate of inspection (COI) and ABS class internal structural and drydock examination.

The unnamed twin-screw and oceangoing tug, with two Cat 3508C engines, was drydocked for an unnamed client. It entered the shipyard after the vessel master noticed a wobble in the starboard shaft, and as it was close to requiring its COI renewal and ABS examination.

“Upon drydocking the vessel and completing a full inspection by the vessel owners, port engineer and Stevens Shipyard project manager, a job scope was determined,” said Stevens Towing.

“When it came to the running gear, we checked the alignment of the starboard engine and shaft, then determined the shaft was bent.”

The shipyard removed the shaft and replaced it with a new shaft provided by the customer “and blue fit the existing wheel and coupling to the shaft provided. Once the running gear was put back in the vessel, we did final alignments.”