Damen, Verolme Special Equipment To Partner

Damen Shiprepair Harbour & Voyage (DSHV) has signed a joint partnership agreement with Verolme Special Equipment to service exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), widely known as marine scrubbers.

The agreement came about because clients of both Dutch companies were seeking wider availability of services for onboard scrubber installations – either in port or underway.

More and more vessels are having scrubbers installed as one of the options to comply with IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap. However, this increase in scrubber installations represents a potential increase in maintenance, service, modifications and repairs, said Jozeph W.D. Quak, managing director of Damen Shiprepair Harbour & Voyage.

“With any new technology, there is always a learning curve, and this is also with the EGCS,” Quak said. “There are potential problems due to vibrations in the new added steel structures and related. Additionally, the acidic nature of sulfur can cause corrosion to the discharge piping, overboard pipes and scrubber system itself.”

This, he points out, is already being observed in existing systems, resulting in a significant increase in corroded and cracked pipework. Replacement by GRE pipe systems and installation of SMO on crucial locations give the solution, the companies said.

“Many systems have been installed without proper material considerations and we see that (early) failure of parts and serious corrosion damage is not rare,” Quak said. “The partnership between Damen Shiprepair Harbour & Voyage and Verolme Special Equipment provides a complete service for all problems that might occur. We can assist our clients anytime and anywhere, to keep vessels sailing without or with very short down-time in case mentioned problems occur and repairs are necessary.”

This service will be provided around the clock, all around the globe with a lead time of max 24-hour notice, prior attending of the vessel. Accordingly, team will attend and after a site inspection a suitable recovery plan will be provided making sure downtime is limited to the minimum.

Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 13 000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers around 175 vessels annually to customers worldwide.