News - Marine & Offshore

Metalock Brasil, recognized for its expertise in marine repairs, was recently called upon by one of the largest Greek shipping companies to solve a critical issue on a container ship with over 9,000 TEUs. During a voyage from Central America to Asia, the vessel suffered damage to one of its cylinders, which led to the need for it to be towed at sea.

After several meetings at the shipowner’s headquarters in Piraeus, Greece, a repair plan was developed, leading the vessel to be towed for more than a thousand nautical miles to the Bay of All Saints in Salvador (Bahia, Brazil). Metalock Brasil immediately mobilized its specialized technicians and equipment to the location.

The focal point of the work was the machining of the crankpin, with an original diameter of 1062 mm — a critical engine component requiring absolute precision. Metalock Brasil promptly made its machining equipment available, ready for immediate operation. This readiness was decisive for the efficiency of the service, which also included a dedicated team of four technicians working in two shifts to ensure the process ran smoothly.

In addition to the crankpin machining, the repair scope included the complete flushing of the main engine’s lubrication system, the inspection and cleaning of the oil cooler, and the deployment of mechanics for the opening and inspection of multiple cylinders. The complexity of the situation required the involvement of engineers and superintendents from Greece and Korea, as well as surveyors from the Classification Society and Insurance.

A total of ten Metalock Brasil technicians participated in the project, working in 24-hour shifts over 20 days, ensuring that the repairs were completed in the shortest possible time.

The successful completion of the machining, combined with inspections and the cleaning of the lubrication system, resulted in the approval of sea trials. The ship was then cleared to resume its voyage to Asia, confirming the quality and efficiency of the services provided by Metalock Brasil.