MV Yellowstone
Dormac’s first Dry Docking of the year has successfully been completed in the Durban Graving Dock. The 23 year old MV Yellowstone was docked to have her underwater hull inspected and refurbished. The refurbishment consisted of a SA 2.5 spot blast and a full SA 1.5 grit sweep including a full coating of her underwater hull.

In addition to the above works the vessels time in the dock was utilized to carry out a change of class as well as the respective inspections and repairs related to this. Repairs included various steel works, the renewal of her water tight integrity, the removal of redundant equipment on her deck, and the overhaul of her stern seal which required the call out of a technician from Spain. The vessel’s provisions crane, engine room crane and port and starboard lifeboat davits were restored to full working capability and load tested.  Both of the vessels gangways were removed for repairs in the Dormac Machine and Fabrication Shops.

Major works on board consisted of the complete overhaul of the vessels ballast system and bilge system, this entailed the removal and fitment of over 30 valves from within the duct keel tunnel and engine room. Repairs to these systems were hindered by the lack of space, which impacted on the removal of the valves. The system was returned to operating standards as approved by the vessels Class within just a few days.

After being made aware that the vessel had experienced main engine problems, Dormac contacted the owners to provide a solution to their problem and Dormac were duly asked to assist with the repair. The vessel, having had a fire in the exhaust manifold, docked at the Dormac Repair Quay where the Main Engine was dismantled and inspected. All units were overhauled including the Turbo Charger and all censors were checked and rewired on the Main Engine.

In addition minor steel works were undertaken as well as adjustments and fine tuning to the boiler.

Bourbon Arethuse
The MPSV Bourbon Arethuse has been alongside the Dormac Repair Quay for an extended period, as much of the work has necessitated the flying out of Makers Men from across the globe. Dormac fitted a 45 ton Knuckle Boom Crane to the vessels deck in conjunction with Makers Men from SMST.

Other repairs undertaken have included the realignment of the bow thruster shafts & gearboxes with Schottels Makers Men. Makers Men from Plimsol have also assisted in the repairing of the on board plimsols.

Various electrical modifications and installations were undertaken including insulation and cladding in the bow thruster room.

Cecilie Theresa
The MV Cecilie Theresa received attention from Dormac after she encountered difficulties with her rudder whilst in the Port of Durban.

Her rudder was removed in situ due to the rudder stock bush being worn and machining was undertaken to the damaged bush housing. A new bush was cast and machined in the Dormac Machine Shop. Once the bush was shrunk into position the rudder and steering gear were re-fitted and the Makers Man was flown out for final commissioning of the rudder.

In addition to these repairs, pipe work was carried out in the engine room as well as on deck and general repairs undertaken to the vessels anchor.

New Building - Hull 109
Steady progress is being achieved on the New Build of Hull 109 for Unicorn Shipping. Sub assembly on the grillage is now complete, and the units have been transferred to the slipway where they are currently being joined together to form the complete hull.

Much of the heavy bore piping is in the course of being erected and a large portion of the secondary machinery has now been positioned. Procurement and delivery of the major overseas components have been received and are now being routed into the system.

The project is on schedule and delivery is expected around May 2009.

Long Service Award
Dormac’s Industrial Works Manager Mr Neil Cobb recently celebrated 30 years of service to Dormac. Neil joined Dormac on the 13th December 1978 and undertook his apprenticeship whilst with Dormac.

Neil was appointed to Dormac’s most senior industrial position on the 28th September 2006 and Dormac would like to thank him for his continued support and efforts over the past 30 years. Dormac’s Managing Director Chris Sparg (Left) and Financial Director Craig Samuel (Right) present Dormac’s Industrial Works Manager Neil Cobb with his long service award.

Industrial Works
The sugar mill off-crop season is in full swing and we are completing a lot of work for various mills. We are testing and repairing a number of centrifugal baskets for mills all over South Africa, from Illovo Umzimkulu in Port Shepstone right up to TSB Malelane in Mpumalanga. We are also completing work on baskets for mills across Africa, like Illovo Dwanga and Royal Swazi Sugar. Other sugar mill work being completed includes the re-grooving of sugar rollers, the repairing of shafts for sugar rollers and the repairs to chain sprockets. We are also completing the major repairs to final drive gear wheels where we are doing weld repairs to cracks and building up bearing journals using sub-arc welding procedures.

The paper and pulp industry is also keeping Dormac busy with various rollers being machined, re-stubbed and balanced. Other paper and pulp work includes chipper disks being repaired, log grabs being re-conditioned, and a kiln shaft and roller being manufactured. We are also overhauling a big 900Lt HP feeder for Sappi Ngodwana and a 130Lt HP feeder for Mondi Piet Retief.

Various water cooled equipment is being completed for Richard’s Bay Minerals and various small items from the quarries in and around Durban is keeping the fitting bay on their toes.

We recently completed a major overhaul of a big shear for Hulamin. The majority of the work was completed in our workshop with old gearing, motors and drives being removed and upgraded items fitted. New bushes, pins etc were manufactured and fitted to replace worn parts. Housings were machined to accommodate the upgraded drives and motors and all hydraulic systems were inspected and repaired where needed. The shears were assembled and tested in our shop, dismantled and transported to Hulamin where it was re-assembled and commissioned. Hulamin praised the quality of workmanship and know-how of our staff and especially mentioned the fitters that worked on site at Hulamin to assemble and commission the shears. A major job well done!

Dormac Cape Town
Offshore afloat repairs off the West Coast of Africa have kept Dormac - Cape Town busy this year. An A.H.V. (Anchor Handling Vessel) had problems with one their main gearboxes and Dormac were called out to attend the vessel which was operating 500 Kms North of Angola. Dormac Technicians sourced the problems and within 3 days they had returned to Cape Town.

Drill platforms calling in Walvis Bay have also requested that Dormac – Cape Town send their steel and pipe teams to the rigs, in order to carry out repairs. The owners had previously used the services of Dormac – Cape Town and this was a pre-requisite for our team to again show their qualities.

The United Kingdom has had increased numbers of naval vessels calling in the Cape waters and Dormac were again requested to attend to afloat repairs.

The elite passenger liner Hebridean Spirit was dry docked by Dormac – Cape Town during the months of October and December 2008.

Four 20 Ton dumb barges for Cape Diving were built in our facilities in Cape Town. At the same time that the barges were being built, Dormac – Cape Town quoted and was awarded the tender to manufacture 120 Tons of grillage, which was positioned and welded on the deck of a semi submersible vessel. The vessel then sailed to West Africa and loaded two jack up rigs as seen in the accompanying picture.

The B.M. Adventure was towed into Saldanha Bay with main engine problems and Dormac were called in to assist the owners. Main engine units were removed, cleaned and re-assembled, turbochargers stripped down, cleaned and boxed up and the vessel then safely sailed within 4 days of arriving in Saldanha Bay.

The Morning Auto recently limped into Saldanha Bay. Two charge air coolers were removed, new tube stacks were replaced and coolers fitted back into position. Both Turbochargers were removed and overhauled, as well as the main engine units being removed, reconditioned and refitted.

Daily afloat repairs to the Transnet tugs seem to be ongoing.

Most of the industrial sectors in Saldanha Bay closed over the festive season. January has seen most of these sectors reopen and business should start picking up again within the next few weeks.

Dormac Richards Bay
M/V Blumenau
DORMAC‘S Richards Bay Ship Repair Division recently completed successful repairs on the hatch cover and coamings of the MV Blumenau, which sustained severe damage when the boom of a Hitachi pneumatic discharge appliance collapsed suddenly during use onto the vessel’s hatch cover and coamings. DORMAC staff were called in to undertake repairs and within 72 hours, our staff, successfully repaired the affected areas.

Before commencing repairs the hatch had to be elevated safely without causing any further damage. Once the hatch was elevated, we effectively cut and removed the damaged sections and renewed with 5 inserts on the hatch cover itself, the largest insert being 4m x 665mm. We also replaced a 4m section of the hatch coamings and inserted 3 complete stiffeners, as well as repairing the damaged areas of the compression bars and the rollers of the hatch covers.

The highlight of these repairs is the fact that the quantity of work was carried out within a 72 hour period and once again DORMAC Richards Bay has proven that major repairs can be undertaken successfully.

The project required Dormac to fabricate two gantries and one bucket elevator (At a total weight of 42 tons). Dormac would need to install the lower gantry on top of the silo’s with the upper gantry running from the lower gantry on the silo’s to the slag plant. The bucket elevator was to be installed from the ground floor reaching up past the upper gantry to a height of 47 meters. This work needed to be complete before December 2008 as there was a shut planned for the first two weeks of December, during the shut Dormac had to remove the old redundant system and tie in the newly installed gantries and bucket elevator. After many long hours and lots of meticulous planning the slag plant was able to restart as scheduled with no hiccups!

Dormac "ship shape" calendar
To receive the free Dormac Calendar delivered straight to your email address every month, simply register on our web site at www.dormac.net, under "calendar" on the home page.