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Water coming into a ship is always urgent. Even a small leak can fill a space, affect stability and damage cargo. Underwater leak repair in Nagoya Port is about stopping the water quickly and safely, then planning a permanent repair when time allows.
The crew should start pumping, sound the affected spaces, close watertight doors and tell the owner, the class society and the port authorities as required. If the leak is serious, the master calls for emergency help. Once the Ship is safe, he can call us with the position, the Draft, and what is known about the leak. The more detail the crew can give, the sooner the Diver can start.
The Diver searches the suspected area, using CCTV and sometimes dye or a hand to feel the water flow. A leak may be a hole, a crack, a failed valve or a damaged weld. He records its size and position, and notes the plating around it. The plan for the repair depends on what he finds.
A soft patch is a flexible mat, often made of rubber or canvas, held against the hull by the pressure of the water and fastened by wires or bolts. It can stop a leak quickly, usually in an hour or two. It is a temporary solution for holes, cracks and weeping seams, and it is often used until a better repair can be done.
A box patch is a steel or fibreglass box built around the leak, bolted or welded to the Hull and filled with a sealing compound such as epoxy or underwater cement. It is stronger than a soft patch. For round holes, wooden or metal plugs may be driven in and secured. Small cracks can sometimes be stopped with underwater epoxy and a small patch.
Special underwater epoxies can bond to steel in water and fill gaps. They are quick to use and help with small leaks or around flanges. They are not a permanent solution for large cracks or holes.
The ship's crew checks the affected space, confirms the leak has stopped and keeps watching. The Diver reports the repair and the condition of the area. The surveyor may require a follow-up inspection and a permanent repair at the next docking. We provide the documents for class, flag and insurers.
Call with the ship's name, position, Draft and a short description of the leak. We prepare the team and equipment immediately and give an estimated arrival time.
Every ship should know where its emergency equipment is: collision mat, wooden plugs, cement box materials, pumps and damage control plans. Crew drills help, and so does a quick contact with a Diver team that knows the port. Keeping our contact details in the ship's emergency list means no time is lost in an emergency. We also keep a standard set of patches and compounds ready, so the team can leave quickly.
Rough weather, strong current and low visibility make leak repair harder. We assess conditions on the way and tell the master what to expect. Sometimes the first action is to move the ship to a more sheltered berth.
Q1. How long does it take to fit a soft patch?
A soft patch can often be fitted in 1 to 2 hours once the Diver has found the leak and the equipment is on site.
Q2. What is a box patch?
A steel or fibreglass box built around the leak, bolted or welded to the Hull and filled with a sealing compound such as epoxy or underwater cement.
Q3. Is an underwater leak repair permanent?
Usually it is temporary. The surveyor may require a permanent repair at the next dry-docking.
Q4. What should the master tell us first?
The ship’s name, position, Draft, a short description of the leak and the actions already taken on board.
