Case study: Replacement of a cracked rudder stock in a hurry

MarineShaft recently replaced a rudder stock belonging to a vessel from one of the world-leading shipping companies in only 12 manufacturing days.  

When unrepairable cracks in the rudder stock and pintle are detected, finding fast manufacture of a new rudder stock can be a challenge – especially if the rudder stock is 8 meters long.

We are proud to have provided our services to a 232-meter long container vessel that needed emergency repair both in our workshop and onsite.

The vessel was in docked at a shipyard in Poland when we received an inquiry for manufacturing of a new rudder stock  Ø605 x 8064 mm with stainless steel liners and a new pintle Ø810 x 2281 mm.

With the suitable material and sizes in stock, we could offer a short manufacturing time, and we received the order for the new rudderstock and pintle, including onsite machining and fitting.
The involved classification society was DNV-GL.
 

With the manufacturing on track, MSC asked us to send a technician to inspect the rudder and carry out laser alignment of the rudder line to prepare for later-on in-situ machining for fitting of the new rudder stock and pintle.

We manufactured the new rudder stock and pintle in only 12 working days. The steering gear had been sent to our workshop in Denmark to fit the upper cones on the new rudder stock to the steering gear before shipment. Before we received the steering gear, it was overhauled by the maker in Germany. A new rudder bushing was also manufactured.

MarineShaft sent the raw busing material for the new rudder horn pintle busing to the shipyard. After machining the rudder horn on site, we knew the new diameter for the new bushing. The shipyard machined the bushing and our service technicians installed it.

When the rudder stock and pintle arrived, we had our mobile equipment and four technicians ready to machine the rudder blade cones. The shipyard had machined the bearing bushing, and everything was prepared for reinstallation.

Our technicians worked double shifts to reduce the installation time. We delivered the new rudder stock and pintle with 4 mm oversize, and the rudder cones were machined accordingly.

We always work in close collaboration with all involved parties and thank all involved parties.