36 | MARINE Heron Ship Repair T T Russell Fredric Keeping vessels in top shape Repair and maintenance work forms the core of the business. Above, the Layla ready to sail again. When the cable ship Layla lost its rudder in the South Pacific, the solution ultimately lay in Whangārei, where Heron Ship Repair designed and built a replacement from scratch. Based in Whangārei, Heron Ship Repair specialises in the refit and repair of commercial vessels, as well as new vessel builds and steel structures. The yard services a wide range of working vessels including fishing vessels, tugboats, barges and dredges, with haul out capability for vessels up to 90 metres and 1,800 tonnes. General manager Spencer Brown says repair and maintenance work forms the core of the business. “Commercial vessels must periodically leave the water for regulatory survey, typically during a two-and-a-half or five-year cycle. Structural checks, repairs and upgrades are carried out before returning to service.” Much of the work carried out during these haul-outs involves mandatory survey items, but vessel owners often take the opportunity to complete additional modifications or improvements while the vessel is out of the water. In practical terms, that can mean changes to working equipment, structural upgrades or modifications that improve how the vessel performs in day-to-day operations. A recent project that highlighted the complexity of the yard’s work involved the cable ship Layla, which lost its rudder while operating in the South Pacific. Without steering, the vessel required urgent recovery before repairs could begin. Heron Construction dispatched their tug Capricorn Alpha to tow the vessel back to Whangārei, where Heron Ship Repair hauled it and began assessing the damage. The original rudder had been lost at sea, meaning the replacement could not simply be replicated. Designing a new rudder required collaboration with Marine Industrial Design (MID) to determine the correct dimensions, weight and structural requirements. The component then had to be fabricated, certified and installed before the vessel could safely return to operation. “It might sound straightforward to build a rudder, but every vessel is different and the engineering calculations behind it are quite specific,” Spencer says. AVON INDUSTRIES LTD 31 Pipiwai Road, Kamo PO Box 27, Whangarei New Zealand Ph: 64 9 435 1033 Fax: 64 9 435 2565 Email: avonind@callplus.net.nz www.avonindustries.co.nz Proud to support Heron Ship Repair Ltd • Production Engineering • Abrasive Blasting & Painting • Hot Dip Galvanising A DIVISION OF MCKAY LIMITED Insulation and Sheetmetal Specialists - Aluminium / Stainless Steel Fabrication and Repairs - HVAC Ducting and Dust Extracts - Hot and Cold Insulation and Cladding - Bespoke Insulation Exhaust Matts - Specialists in Marine Insulation and Fireproofing The project involved working closely with MID to ensure the design met marine classification standards before fabrication began. “We were working with naval architects and engineers to design a completely new rudder because the original was at the bottom of the Pacific. Additionally, we needed to determine the root cause of the failure, and ensure the new installation was reliable.” During the repair process the vessel also underwent additional maintenance work including hull preparation, repainting and other minor modifications before returning to service. Since completing the project, the vessel has continued operating in the region and now calls regularly at Northport as part of its cargo schedule. Projects such as this reflect the technical environment shipyards operate within. Marine repair work is governed by strict regulatory and classification standards that dictate how materials are sourced, fabricated and installed. “The rules around marine classification and compliance are very strict, and they apply to every job we do, whether it’s a small repair or a major rebuild.”
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