Efficient hydraulics for maritime applications

More than 600 offshore drilling platforms for oil and gas are on duty in the North Sea. Yet the wells are gradually running dry. The task is now to dismantle the installations by 2040 in a way that is both environmentally friendly and affordable. State-of-the-art twin hull vessels are deployed for this purpose. For maximum performance of the ship’s engine a durable, high-tech hydraulic system is needed that is capable of withstanding high working pressures in the saline environment. Any defects result directly in costly maintenance and repair.The main power transmission elements are the piston rods in the hydraulic cylinders. To meet the demand for a compact package, they must also transmit more power while keeping the same design size. The solution is chrome-plated special steel bar from Ugitech. Its features include a high resistance to wear, optimised corrosion resistance and a good price-performance ratio – attributes that are the result of high competence in steel production.The largest and most state-of-the-art twin hull ship currently sailing the seas is the Pioneering Spirit owned by Swiss offshore service provider Allseas. The vessel, like other so-called pipelayers, is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system and transports platforms weighing up to 50,000 tons. The work boats are used to install and remove large structural elements of offshore oil rigs.

The hydraulic system is the heart of the in-line and V-engines used in ship propulsion. On the high seas, demands for operational and occupational safety are extremely high. In the worst case scenario, machine failure results in pollution on a grand scale and in an inability to maneuver the vessel. In addition to imminent distress at sea, risks also include high operating cycle costs originating from costly maintenance work, etc.Consequently, it is all the more important that the corrosion-resistant steel used is able to ensure reliable continuous output of the hydraulic system. Moreover, the system manufacturers and the shipyards also keep an eye on material prices. At their plant in St. Etienne, France, Ugitech, a subsidiary of the SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group, has run a competence center for chromium-plating of steel bar for more than 40 years: the product UGICHROM is a special steel with high-performance chromium plating and optimally meets the requirements for the piston rods essential for power transmission in ship hydraulics.“The decommissioning and dismantling of oil rigs has developed into an industry in its own right,” reports Mikaël Marret, Product Manager Chromium Plated Products at Ugitech. “With our chromium-plated steel bar, we make an active contribution to the ongoing technical developments in this area of application.