Intermediate Bearing Failure
While in operation, a fully loaded cargo vessel experienced a bearing failure, necessitating the urgent need for new bearing parts or repair. The vessel decided to lay at anchor outside a port in Thailand until the situation was solved.

MarineShaft has long-term experience with shaft line repairs, including in-situ assistance. The vessel’s technical surveyor contacted us for a repair solution.

In-situ Inspection
We sent service engineers to Thailand, where they transferred to the vessel for inspection of the damage and conducted hardness tests as well as measuring the surface roughness of the shaft.

The inspection of the intermediate shaft bearing journal revealed no damage, but it required a light polishing, which we performed in situ immediately. However, the shells in the bearing housing were damaged and needed repair. We disassembled the bearing housing, which was then sent by air to our workshop in Denmark.

White metal laser cladding

As the vessel had spare upper shells on hand, the fastest repair solution was to machine and refit them, and therefore, the upper shells were also sent to our workshop to be machined.

We machined the upper and lower housing flanges to restore the intact surfaces, preparing for laser cladding with white metal in four areas of the lower shell.

MarineShaft specializes in class-approved laser cladding using different powders: Inconel 625,
Stellite 25, bronze, and the latest addition of two new materials: white metal and aluminum.

After laser cladding was completed, we reassembled the bearing housing and performed final machining of the bearing inner diameter and seal grooves, restoring it to its original dimensions.

The repair included the class-required blue fit and ultrasonic bonding tests.

The damaged shells will be kept in our workshop for complete repair and recasting with new white metal and will be returned to the vessel as spares later.

On-site installation

MarineShaft was also assigned to assist with the installation of the intermediate bearing and to perform both alignment and jack-up tests after reinstallation.
Urgent repair ensured minimal downtime and a fast return to operation.