Sea Technology

NOV 2016

The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community

Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/748191

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 41 of 72

www.sea-technology.com November 2016 / st 41 Marchwood to their former glory. The mission was simply: Make them good. "Key to successfully refurbishing these mammoth units was understanding precisely how they are stored, deployed and used," said Metcalfe. "To that end, our team involved in the project went to huge lengths to really get a handle on the tasks at hand." That's no idle boast, Metcalfe's boys even went on ex- ercise with the Army to see these monoliths in action, gen- erating the kind of in-depth data you're just not going to achieve in a boardroom briefing. "We learned what type of beaches or defenses they're expected to breach, what sort of ships they're deployed from, how they're lifted, how they're stored, how they're launched, what they carry and how they're used at sea," said Metcalfe. Armed with every aspect of strategic intel, the team set to work restoring these old but essential pieces of equipment. "'Make them good' rather sells the operation short," Metcalfe said wryly, with a smile. "They were des- perately in need of deep refurbishment and repair. They were rusted, dented and cracked—quite literally battle- worn in fact. Some of the bow infills had rotted away completely following years of near constant immersion, shoot bolt housing units had been dented, and bolts on the hatches had rusted solid." Build up from years of those "licks of paint" had to be blasted off before work could begin in earnest. New hatches and stainless steel bolts were fabricated (in many cases replacing mild steel bolts that had seized, or simply snapped), areas that had completely rusted over or through were made good, and new deck plates were welded into place. A completely new epoxy paint system and vital non- slip decking was then configured. "We sent many samples to the end-users," said Metcalfe. "Achieving the perfect combination of grip and durability was paramount." And it wasn't just the exterior that was receiving such intense attention. In order to prolong life and prevent oxidi- zation, the entire interior box sections were blasted back to metal, cleaned, prepped and epoxy coated. "Nth degree" detailing included marking every bolt so that nefarious tam- pering could be easily spotted and addressed. The aim was to greatly improve longevity and reduce ongoing maintenance. The result was that in many key ar- eas these Titans of the U.K. Armed Forces are better than new: more fit for purpose with improvements such as the high-spec, high-durability nonslip areas; more able to be comprehensively maintained thanks to marine-grade ma- terials that won't rust and seize upon contact with sea air; and more durable due to those super-tough epoxy finishes so thoroughly and carefully applied inside and out. Thorough trials demonstrated that performance had also been improved. With the years of old paint removed and surfaces far better finished, huge laminar flow efficiency gains resulted in a 2-kt. increase in speed—not bad for a vessel weighing up to 360 tonnes fully loaded. Meanwhile, Landau UK continues to seek more efficient techniques to lower future maintenance costs and further improve usabil- ity and longevity. Above all, Landau UK has done 52 Squadron proud, equipping the unit with essential tools of the trade that will work, and keep on working—providing vital backup and reliable support in some of the most arduous conditions and toughest corners of the world. Cheverton Champ On a stormy day, with a broken mooring, unmanned and adrift, the Warsash Sea Cadets' Cheverton Champ mo- tor launch was driven toward shore by strong winds and high waves, with only the low-lying Warsash concrete jetty blocking its path. Making contact with the jetty first with its fiberglass cuddy cabin, the plucky little boat was driven hard against the structure, knocking the strength from the cabin roof again and again until it collapsed. That was just the beginning. With nothing stopping the boat from sliding beneath the jetty, waves tossed the boat upward again and again, smashing it mercilessly into the concrete. The gunwales were completely destroyed, not just shattered but actually missing in sections. The motor box took the brunt next, mangled and broken by the storm, allowing tonnes of rainwater to enter the engine compart- ment and bilges. But Mother Nature still hadn't finished: As the tide went out, the little boat was pounded into the rocky shore, crushing the skeg and rudder. In the early evening light, beached on the foreshore, it posed a sorry sight. Established in 1856, the Sea Cadets is a proud British tra- dition. Created by local communities wanting to give young people naval instruction and guidance, it traditionally com- prised mostly elderly seafarers who would give up their time to help and instruct, while local business supported the units financially. In the ensuing 160 years, not much has changed fundamentally. The Royal Navy is currently the biggest supporter of this organization that has grown to encompass 14,000 young people based in 400 units across The Cheverton Champ before and after refurbishment.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Sea Technology - NOV 2016