Cuxhaven NC undergoing maintenance and upgrades

“For this dry dock, we had planned several key tasks, including the withdrawal of the propeller shaft, a full overhaul of the rudder, maintenance of the trawl winch wire steering mechanism, repairs and renewal of timber on the trawl deck, an overhaul of automatic equipment in the factory, installation of a new searchlight, and upgrades to the bridge equipment. The list is extensive, but we prepared as thoroughly as possible, ensuring that all necessary parts were ordered well in advance. Typically, we start preparing six months before the vessel is lifted,” says Erlingsson.

Despite meticulous planning by both DFFU and the shipyard, unforeseen issues can always arise. Erlingsson highlights the importance of having skilled personnel on site to manage such challenges efficiently.

One of the unexpected challenges during this dock arose when it was decided to lower the rudderstock to replace its seals, as both a complete rudder overhaul and propeller shaft withdrawal were already in progress. While this is typically a routine job with minimal complications on a vessel as young as Cuxhaven NC, disassembly revealed that the seals had been incorrectly installed when the vessel was built, causing damage to the rudderstock.

Only a few companies in Europe are authorised to carry out such repairs in compliance with classification regulations, one of them being a specialist class-approved workshop in Denmark. As a result, the rudderstock—measuring 4.4 metres in length, with a diameter of 36 cm and weighing 3,400 kg—is now en route to Denmark for repair.

“This issue will delay us by a few days, but it could have been worse without the swift and professional response from our service providers and logistics partners,” says Erlingsson.