An offshore vessel operator asked us to renew the hydraulic hoses on a midship crane and on the port and starboard steering gear in one planned job. We made up and fitted 77 new hose assemblies, replaced 55 crane adaptor fittings with BSP connectors and SAE flanges, and leak tested both systems.
The problem
Hoses on a deck crane and on steering gear are high-consequence: a burst crane hose can drop a load or spray oil across the deck, and a steering gear hose failure affects the vessel’s ability to steer. On this vessel the hoses were ageing, and replacing them one at a time as they failed would have meant repeated call-outs and unplanned downtime. The operator chose to renew the lot while the vessel was in port.
What we found
- Midship crane: 55 hoses due for renewal, together with 55 female reducer fittings with standard BSP connectors and SAE flanges
- Steering gear, port and starboard: 22 hoses due for renewal
Changing the adaptors at the same time as the hoses mattered. Mismatched or corroded adaptors are a common source of leaks even with new hoses.
What we did
- Made up 77 new hose assemblies in our Sharjah workshop
- Supplied and fitted 55 female reducer fittings with BSP connectors and SAE flanges on the crane
- Removed the old hoses and fitted the new assemblies on the crane and both sides of the steering gear
- Leak tested both systems after fitting
Result
All 55 crane hoses and 22 steering gear hoses were renewed in one planned job, with new adaptor fittings on the crane. Both systems were leak tested and handed back with the crane and steering gear on a known starting date for their next hose renewal, rather than a mix of hose ages.
This is the way we prefer to sell hose work: whole machines or whole vessels, planned around the vessel’s programme. For a single hose, a local hose shop will be faster.
