Hydrex Ready to Mobilize at Port of Rotterdam
To enable a fast mobilization throughout the entire Rotterdam port without delaying a ship’s commercials operations, Hydrex dive support vessels are stationed in Rotterdam. These workboats are fully equipped with hydraulic cranes, winches, a dive spread and control room.This allows Hydrex to offer simple maintenance operations as well as repairs on all parts of the underwater ship propulsion system and the hull. Hydrex operations are class approved and carried out alongside or at anchorage while commercial activities continue without disruption. The company does this with qualified and
Hydrex Earns Belgium, Netherlands Approvals
In close communication with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Hydrex has developed a new method to clean propeller blades underwater. This method complies with the strict environmental regulations in Belgium and the Netherlands. As a result, the company has been given permission to clean propeller blades in both countries.The traditional approach in the propeller maintenance industry is to polish the blades with a grinding disk which can be quite damaging to the propeller. By the very fact of using a grinding disk, a substantial amount of metal is removed from the blades.
Double On-site Seal Repair on Offshore Platform in Mexico
In August a team of Hydrex divers traveled to Veracruz, Mexico for a stern tube seal repair. The operation consisted of the underwater replacement of the damaged seals on both assemblies of a semi-submersible offshore platform. The unit left the field after its project was finished and was berthed alongside to have repair and maintenance work carried out without docking. We were asked to perform the stern tube seal repairs during the available window of opportunity. After the diving team performed a thorough underwater inspection of the assembly they installed on of our flexible
Diver Training Key to Underwater Vessel Repair
After delays of almost two weeks following an unsuccessful repair to the hull of a 180m bulk carrier that ran aground offshore Las Palmas, Spain, Hydrex Underwater Technologies was approached to get the vessel sailing again. Hydrex Production Executive Dave Bleyenberg explained, “The classification society said to the owner the repair would be more likely to get the green light if we were involved because they knew we had the needed certificates and experience.” Once Hydrex’s involvement was approved, a small inspection team was flown to Las Palmas to perform a detailed underwate
Hydrex to Expand Antwerp Facility
Antwerp Port Authority has supported Hydrex Underwater Technologies’ plan to expand its existing 5000m² site on Asiadok on the River Scheldt with new workshops and offices. As part of its expansion, the result of organic growth over the past two years, Hydrex has also refurbished its dive support workboats and increased its manpower by 25 percent to strengthen its diver-technician capability. Hydrex Chairman Boud Van Rompay said, “The new facility together with our recent recruitment drive is consequent of market demand for swift and cost-effective underwater hull and
Propeller Repairs Increase as Winter Approaches
Hydrex Underwater Technology has registered an increase in the number of vessels experiencing propeller damage. Dave Bleyenberg, Hydrex Production Executive, explained: “While winter months usually result in an increase in propeller repairs, this normally occurs between January and March. But we have already attended a number of vessel inspections on propeller blades broken or damaged by ice or debris.” In November, a Hydrex team was called out to Taranto, Italy, to inspect a 27,500dwt general cargo ship, whose engineers had reported excessive vibration from its five blade, 5m
Hydrex Response Repairs Stern in Record Time
Hydrex Underwater Technology has completed the emergency stern tube seal repair to a 134m chemical tanker, after the Antwerp Port Authority demanded an underwater inspection and in-situ repair to the vessel before allowing it to set sail. The vessel’s crew had carried our temporary repairs to stem the flow of lubricating oil from the stern, but the Port would not let the ship continue on her schedule before a dive team had inspected the propeller shaft seals. At the request of the shipowner, Antwerp-based Hydrex mobilized a dive team which found the temporary fix had not completely stopped
Complex Steel and Cofferdam Repairs Carried Out Afloat
Hydrex has an in-house Research & Development department that can take care of the engineering aspects of an operation. In this way turnkey solutions can be offered for complex hull and other repairs that require the construction of specific equipment. All the projects are engineered and carried out in close cooperation with the customer and any third party suppliers. R&D evaluates the feasibility of an underwater repair, continue through design and construction of customized equipment and go all the way through to successful execution of the repair or replacement and subsequent follow-up.
Underwater Rudder Crack Repair in Haifa
At the end of March a Hydrex team traveled to Haifa, Israel to carry out a crack repair on the rudder of a 260-meter container vessel. The divers started the operation with a detailed underwater inspection of the affected area. This was done under the supervision of a representative of the classification society. With the measurements taken during this inspection, a complete assessment of the damage could be made. This allowed us to create the best possible repair plan for the problem. A 690 mm crack was found, partially covering the weld seam of the portside rudder cover plate.
February 2025
