Colombo Dockyard goes for integrated management system

An integrated commercial and production management system has been introduced by Colombo Dockyard PLC to bring in the much needed control and monitoring element in ship repair projects. This is a custom designed system, said Colombo Dockyard, Head of Marketing, Ship Repairs, Darshana Chandrasekera in an interview with Sunday Observer Business.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: What were the most significant repair and conversion projects undertaken by the company this year?

A: The Colombo Dockyard undertook repairs for many vessels during the first half of 2013, tankers, dredgers container and general cargo vessels. Some vessels owned by major players such as Thome Ship Management, Arinvest of Singapore, Swedish-owned MT. Mariann, MV. Safmarine Ngami owned by Moller-Maersk A/S, Van Oord, Netherland-owned dredger Ham 318, Mercator Ltd, Indian-owned MT. Vedika were accommodated for drydocking and layup repairs.

Currently classic yacht Kalizma (built in 1906) is undergoing repairs at Dock number three. This yacht returned after a year for her major layup repairs in Colombo. The vessel is owned by Dr. Vijay Maliya.

Routine maintenance of Navy vessel SLN Sagara is also being done. Many of these projects were challenging as the owners were keen on strict delivery due to depressed market conditions.

Q: Are repair, refit or conversion projects under way or booked for later this year?

A: We can highlight one of the breakthrough projects to be carried out for Maersk A/S on the MV. Safmarine Ngami, which was doing the Colombo run. The vessel was placed in the yard soon after discharging her cargo in the Colombo port.

The container carrier, Safmarine Ngami called in for her first special survey and drydocking repairs at Colombo in January. Colombo Dockyard was selected due to the excellent repairs carried out on MV. Maersk Ronneby owned by the same company in February last year.

The Colombo Dockyard was the best option for the owners and managers given its strategic location.

The vessel discharged her containers in the Port of Colombo and moved directly into drydocks for her lay-up repairs. Colombo's flexibility was evident, when the vessel was accommodated in the drydock on the same day of completion of discharge of cargo, a day ahead of the committed date. The repairs were completed on time.

During this drydocking call, the work covered repairs in all sectors such as blasting and painting of hull, as owners were concerned about the vessel's speed and fuel consumption, which depends on the vessel's hull condition.

Full blasting (SA 2.5) on flat bottom and vertical bottom areas were carried out. The hull treatment team played a key role. The initial paint coat was totally removed to apply the new scheme of paints.

They completed the coating work within the given timeframe, even though there were weather interruptions during the vessel's stay. The advanced coating type Hempel's Anti-fouling Dynamic 79560, was used.

Bow thruster, Stern tube seal and ME turbocharger repairs were attended by OEMs, supported by the yard team. Regular DD jobs such as overboard valves, sea valves and boiler mountings were also completed according to specification.

Deck side, electrical and steel repairs were carried out by yard personal, guided by engineers.

The container carrier was accommodated in the 125,000 DWT drydock for repairs and sailed out direct from the drydocks to the loading berth in the Port of Colombo. The repairs met the standards set by the Class American Bureau of Shipping Society.

Q: What investments, in equipment and or facilities, have you made, or are planning to make, in connection with the repair and conversion sector?

A: The shipyard has been improving the processes on one hand and also increasing capacity by enhancing essential factors such as crane capacity. An integrated commercial and production management system has been installed to bring in the much needed control and monitoring element in ship repair projects.

This is a custom designed system for Colombo Dockyard.

Key capital investments have been made. A 160-tonne crane was installed in March this year. This crane will add the much needed lifting capacity for the ship-building and repair sectors. Other machinery and equipment too have been upgraded.

Q: How do you compare the overall volume this year with the corresponding period in 2012?

A: The first half of 2013 has been slow in the repair sector as Dock number one (30,000 DWT) capacity dry-dock has been released for shipbuilding since December 2012.

The ship repair sector has been operating in dock number four (125,000 DWT) and dock number three (9,000 DWT) drydocks. The trend has been a continuation of last year, where owners want to keep costs to a minimum to survive in the depressed market. The shipbuilding sector is busy with two, 400-passenger vessels for the Government of India and three offshore support vessels for a Singapore client.

Q: How do you view the prospects for the repair and conversion business in the coming year?

A: We do not see any major changes in the repair and conversion sector, the main issue is filtering out good inquiries, as against bad ones as the prolonged recession, has made many ship owners to perform in the 'red' overnight.

This is a typical 'survival of the fittest' for ship owners. Prudent, innovative and strong players (ship owners) will stay afloat, while the other may go under in the long-run.

Colombo Dockyard celebrated the 20th anniversary of its partnership with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd. of Japan in March this year. This long-standing relationship has benefited Colombo Dockyard, a medium sized shipyard, which marks its 39th anniversary on August 1.