We work as the hydraulic and lifting subcontractor on drydock and refit projects in UAE shipyards: steering gear, cylinders, deck machinery, power packs, re-hosing and the load tests needed before the vessel leaves. Yard project managers use us to take a defined package off their hands and close it out on time with test reports.
The yard project manager’s world
A ship repair project in a UAE yard runs to a fixed docking window. The owner’s specification lists dozens of items, the yard quotes them, and then the real scope appears once the ship is in dock and things are opened up. Hydraulic items are often among the last to close: a steering ram that needs re-chroming, a crane that fails its load test, a hatch cover cylinder that is worse than expected.
What the project manager wants from a subcontractor is simple: a clear quote per line, people who turn up when the hull is dry, early warning of growth items, and test reports that the owner’s superintendent and the class surveyor sign off without argument.
The UAE yards we work in include the large repair yards at Dubai Maritime City and Drydocks World, the yards in Mussafah and around Abu Dhabi, and smaller yards and slipways in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, from tugs and supply boats to tankers and bulk carriers.
Typical hydraulic scope on a docking
- Steering gear: overhaul of pumps and valves, ram or rotary vane seal renewal, measurement of rams and bushes, and the post-repair tests. See steering gear service.
- Deck cranes: cylinder overhaul, slewing motor and pump overhaul, valve block service, wire rope renewal and the load test before sailing.
- Hatch covers and ramps: cylinder renewal, hinge and cleat work on hydraulic cleats, power pack overhaul. See hatch covers and ramps.
- Mooring and anchoring: winch and windlass motor overhaul, brake tests. See mooring winches and windlasses.
- Lifesaving appliances: davit 5-yearly dynamic load tests, winch brake tests, fall-wire renewal.
- Accommodation ladders and gangways: winch overhaul and load tests.
- VRCS on tankers: actuator overhaul campaigns and system tests.
- Re-hosing: replacement of every hydraulic hose on a crane, a deck system or the whole vessel. See hose management.
What goes wrong on a docking, and how we limit it
Hidden damage. A cylinder quoted as a reseal may have a pitted rod or a scored barrel. We report findings after strip-down with measurements and photographs the same day where possible, quoted as an extra line, so the yard can get the owner’s approval quickly.
Long-lead parts. Rods, glands and OEM pump parts may take weeks. We identify these at survey stage, before the docking where the owner allows it, so the parts are ready.
Machining. Hard-chrome re-plating and honing are done by our machining partners. We manage that flow and give realistic time estimates; they are the main reason a cylinder overhaul runs beyond the typical 3 to 7 working days.
Contamination after repair. Opening up a system in a dusty yard introduces dirt. We cap and protect openings, fill through filters and recommend an oil sample after commissioning. See ISO 4406 oil cleanliness.
Last-minute load test failures. A crane that fails a load test the day before undocking is a serious problem. We recommend doing the hydraulic repairs first and the load test early enough to correct any issue.
Class and the owner’s representatives
Docking hydraulic work is usually witnessed. Our tests are regularly witnessed by surveyors from DNV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register and ABS. Our reports record equipment details, measurements, test pressures and loads, load cell certificates and results, which is what the surveyor and the owner’s superintendent need to close the item.
How we work with yards
- A quote per specification line, so the yard can map our quote directly onto the owner’s specification.
- Survey before docking when the owner allows, to catch long-lead items.
- Workshop and on-board work in parallel: components come to our Sharjah workshop for bench work while our engineers handle in-place work on board.
- Day rates for troubleshooting and standby during commissioning and sea trials. See engineer attendance.
- Hoses made up in our workshop, usually within one or two days of the hose survey.
- Load tests with our own water bags and load cells up to 150 t. We also rent water bags and load cells to yards that run their own tests.
Services that matter most
| Specification item | Service |
|---|---|
| Steering gear overhaul and tests | Steering gear service |
| Cylinder overhauls of all types | Hydraulic cylinder repair |
| Winches, windlasses, capstans | Deck machinery and winches |
| Power packs and accumulators | Hydraulic power units |
| Davit tests and fall-wire renewal | Davit load testing |
| Crane and gangway load tests | Load testing |
| Re-hosing | Hose management |
What to send for a quote
- The hydraulic and lifting lines from the owner’s specification.
- Vessel name, type and IMO number, and the docking dates.
- Makers’ names and model numbers for steering gear, cranes and deck machinery.
- Any class conditions or survey items affecting the hydraulic systems.
- Photographs from the superintendent’s pre-docking inspection if available.
We usually quote within one working day of receiving photos and nameplate data; a full specification package may take longer, and we will say when to expect it.
