Worlds Second Biggest Dredger “Ham 318” In For Repairs At Colombo

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - May 9, 2013 - PRLog -- The Ham 318, world’s second biggest Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger called at Colombo Dockyard for drydocking repairs.
The Van Oord, Netherlands owned massive dredger (67,471 DWT) was accommodated in drydock No. 04 (125,000 DWT) during her repair call to Colombo. The Ham 318 had completed her deployment in Brazilian waters, was shifted to the Indian Ocean for her next employment planned in Mumbai. The owners placed the dredger in Colombo during 3rd week of March to prepare the Ham 318 for her next deployment in Mumbai waters. During this drydocking call the owners utilised the convenience of Colombo’s super fast logistics for connecting her requirement of spare parts etc. and ship yards experience in handling complicated dredgers.      
The key work package during this call consisted of replacement of Drag heads along with modification of visors, Introduce wedge pieces to drag heads, Welding Doublers in way of loading lines to hopper and suction lines, renewal of mouth rings of suction liner. Load testing of cargo gears, Load testing of gangways. Five year service of free fall lifeboats were carried out, misc hydraulic lines renewal, renewal of dredge suction liners. Propeller shaft seal vulcanizing was carried out, overhauling of Sea Valves.  Blasting and painting of poop deck, forecastle deck and part of the hull carried out. Bottom door seal renewals/repairs, Hopper cracks gouging and welding were attended to during this call.
Colombo Dockyard has been servicing Van Oord fleet of vessels over the past decade; this was the biggest dredger to call Colombo Dockyard in its 39 year recorded history.  
The Van Oord Team was happy with the delivery of the full project and ability of Colombo to accommodate the dredgers shifted arrival date smoothly, maintaining the redelivery promptness.  Van oord team during this call comprised of Mr. Andre Kreemer – Plant Manager, Mr. R. Martini- Senior Technical Superintendent, Mr. Adrian Ion Bratu- Technical superintendent and Mr. Saurabh Saravia -Technical superintendent.  The Ham 318 project was headed by Mr. Priyanka Cooray – Ship Manager, all production departments contributed as one team to complete the project on schedule and prepare her to take on her next operational commitments successfully. The repairs were carried out meeting the stringent requirements of the owners as well as the Bureau Veritas classification society. M/s. Sri Lanka Shipping Ltd. handled the husbanding duties smoothly during this call.