The crane ship Wei-Li belonging to Shanghai Salvage just completed a 10-day drydock undergoing maintenance and repair at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque.
The 141-meter, 18,330 DWT crane ship required special dock bed arrangements due to the 3,000 tonne crane mounted on her stern and her unconventional hull form.
A total of 225 blocks were required, along with an additional 56 steel pillars of up to 7 meters in length to support the stern. Wooden wedges also had to be added to the lateral blocks to take account of the unusual hull shape and to ensure complete stability within the drydock.
The scope of work over the 10 day period included, along with the standard work for class survey, blasting and painting the hull and the overhauling of the internal and overboard valves. The scope of the electrical works was extensive given the tight time frame, with a large number of motors removed and transported back to workshop for overhaul before being returned and refitted.
The starboard propeller blades were also rebuilt. This required re-welding tips onto each of the blades followed by a full polish for both propellers. Six generator coolers were also removed for overhauling, as were their bearings, and some major repairs were made to the accommodation.
After all work was completed, the vessel departed September 11 to make the short trip up to Rotterdam.
The Wei-Li was built by Zhenhua Heavy Industries in 2010 and this summer was involved in the installation of the 11,000 tonne jacket for the Ivar Aasen project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
Photos (c) Damen Group
