Some pointed remarks from the Korean shipbuilding “industry insider”:
“Propeller shaft alignment and bearing installation are fundamental processes in shipbuilding, demanding extremely high precision. That such a basic mechanical transmission system—rather than an advanced combat system—has developed defects fully demonstrates the severe deterioration in the technical proficiency of U.S. shipyard workers.”
(emphasis added)
It does beg the question, what is causing QC to fall off and allow major errors like this requiring two subsequent post-launch dry-dockings? And on the third cookie cutter ship of the class no less.
That’s what happened when Kvaerner took over 20 + years ago. Friend of mine, superintendent for our ship management company who had the survey contract for several newbuilds, gave me a tour. Many Polish workers, “Trainers” were welding. Locally hired not skilled at all. Today situation probably better still not up to the new owners standard
Stayed at one of North-East shipyards two years ago for a scheduled maintenance. Quite professional management on all levels. But guys who do actual work were utterly different group - one very experienced and knowledgeable dude of pre-retirement age and bunch of what looked like random people looking for a quick buck before moving on. Some didn’t even speak much English, which is fine (I am not native speaker myself) but definitely slowed down process.
Interesting article. Would not be surprised if Hanwha is using this article to start their exit strategy within the next few years. Year 1 into the Hanwha experiment, would not be surprised if this ends between Year 3 and Year 5.
The bearing issue may be inherent to the SKF design, I believe this is SKF’s first shaft bearing of this diameter. We will know in about 3 weeks or so.
It has taken a few years, but the bad news associated with the program was going to be exposed sooner or later.
For the NSMV class. My understanding is that the bearing has the largest ID that SKF has produced for a water cooled propulsion shaft bearing. SKF has produced other shaft bearing applications, but this program is using the largest shaft diameter bearing that SKF has produced.
That’s kind of what I was hinting at. If it’s ship #1 ok, new design pains, but ship #3 feels more like installer QC. And these vessels don’t seem overly large or complex, I’d tend to err on the side of the company that’s been making bearings for over a century…
Also begs the question (depending on what the actual issue was of course), curious what about it was something that wasn’t caught by Class. Don’t know if this sort of issue on a public vessel garners a report accessible in the public domain; probably not.
Always intrigued by relatively small misses that manifest in relatively large ways. Not to say Hanwha isn’t capable of equally large screw ups back home in SK. When Hanwha was still DSME the vessel under construction next to us in Okpo sank pier-side when someone opened the wrong valve.
Perhaps there was a QC issue associated with the batches of the bearing material used for the bearing element. Maybe the physical design of the bearing did not take into account the condition/position of the shaft at start up and the applied load until the RPMs increase, resulting in a mechanical failure of how the bearing is installed into the stern tube.
Someone in the know may be able to confirm if SKF implemented any design changes to the bearing that is being installed for this next attempt. I suspect all of the parties (MARAD, TOTE, Hanwha) had independent firms confirm the shaft alignment like AME or DIEHL.
The issue that transpired with the bearing on State of Maine was immediate and resulted from shaft rotation. The Empire State and Patriot State have been in operation, so they would have experienced the same result as soon as the shafts started increasing their RPM. Patriot State would not have been able to sail down to Puerto Rico this past week.
I haven’t seen any news regarding the fire onboard. Has that been posted here yet? Has Roger Camp started posting on LinkedIn about how Hanwha Philly Shipyard’s excellent fire detection system saved the cadets, and somehow tied in into PNSY’s historical past?
