New work to overhaul main propulsion diesel engines on three Mainport vessels has been completed by marine engineering and propulsion specialist Royston.

The work saw engineers from UK-based Royston complete major overhauls on two Bergen KRM9 main engines onboard the 66m length offshore support vessel Ocean Spey, as part of a planned maintenance programme of critical power systems.

Completed by the Royston team while the vessel was docked in Cork dockyard, the servicing involved the engines being disassembled to install overhauled cylinder heads, fuel pumps and injectors. Valves, pistons and conrods, cylinder liners, bearing blocks, crankshaft were also checked, and essential repair and replacement work carried out before reassembly and inspection of the engines.

Similar work to overhaul two Niigata 6L28BXE main engines onboard the 37m length MT Celtic Rebel tugboat has also been completed as part of package of engineering support provided by Royston. This saw the removal and inspection of two units, overhaul of the fuel injection equipment and 12,000-hour overhaul on two NHP30 turbo chargers.

Two Cummins KTA38 propulsion engines onboard the tugboat Mainport Kells were also serviced earlier in 2020 by engineers as part of scheduled maintenance and refurbishment ahead of the boat being transferred to new owners in France. This also saw the replacement of twelve-cylinder heads with service exchange heads as part of the 50,000 running hours service of the main port engine.

Engineers carried out incremental load testing in line with the engine manufacturers’ specifications on all the vessels following completion of the work.

Shaun Cairns, Royston’s operations manager, said: “We’re delighted to be working for Mainport, who recognised our experience with the engines and vessel types. Our commitment to delivering the highest standards of work and service value ensures that vessels can return to sea going operations as swiftly and effectively as possible.”

Vincent Gallagher, technical manager at Mainport Marine, said: “As an independent service operator, Royston has impressed with its capabilities, drawing on its professionalism, extensive experience and resourcefulness to complete the work on time and to the highest quality standards.”

The Ocean Spey and Celtic Rebel are currently part of a fleet of survey and research ships, seismic support vessels and tugboats owned and operated by Cork-based Irish Mainport Holdings, which is a provider of marine services to ship-owners, exporters, importers, oil companies, survey companies and offshore wind companies.