Ten years of SPS Overlay
December 2009
Since 1999 SPS Overlay has been used in over 150 projects worldwide and IE’s accumulated experience covers a wide variety of applications and includes approvals from all major classification societies.
The revolution begins…
In 1999, P&O’s Pride of Cherbourg was the first vessel to get the SPS treatment. A small area of deck was repaired using SPS. This trial was so successful that P&O brought the vessel back in 2000 for a complete repair.
In 2007, after completing a turnkey project on the Pride of York, Erik Zuidinga Technical Manager for P&O Ferries North Sea at the time, commented “Once again, SPS Overlay has provided an extremely effective repair. The repair left the engine room undisturbed and the riding gang meant we lost no time. “
SPS Overlay is now established as the repair method of choice for P&O and has been used in more than twenty P&O projects.
A class act
SPS Overlay is approved by all the major classifications societies including Lloyd’s Register, American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas, ClassNK, Germanischer Lloyd, Bureau Veritas, China Classification Society, Russian Maritime Register, Korean Register of Shipping, RINA and Indian Register of Shipping.
In 2006, Lloyd’s Register published rules for the design of SPS structures, which are now being refined in collaboration with DSME. More recently China Class has also published design assessment standards and similar programmes are underway with other classification societies including ABS, DNV and GL.
In 2008 SPS Overlay was accepted by RightShip as a means of repair that meets their Condition Assessment Program (CAP).
Keeps performing
One of the key advantages of SPS Overlay for through-life operation is its impact resistance properties. Using SPS Overlay can virtually eliminate “dishing” of tank tops, leading to improved cargo handling, reduced turnaround times and enhanced operational economics.
In February 2005, SPS Overlay was used to reinstate all five deformed tank tops, 3,025m² on the bulk carrier Bauta. In 2009, Bauta completed its first Special Survey since the original work was carried out and Sverre Grønn, Technical Manager with the Torvald Klaveness Group commented “The in-service performance of SPS Overlay has exceeded our expectations and the structural strength has been impressive. After 4½ years and 150 heavy discharge grab operations the tank top plating is still flat, making discharges both easier and quicker.”
The benefits of using SPS Overlay for bulk carriers are now better understood and in 2009 more than 10,000m² were installed on Capesize bulk carriers at CSSIC Shanghaiguan alone, including 5 projects for Korea Line Corporation.
Off shore and on station
Our first FPSO repair was carried out in-situ off Nigeria for ConoccoPhillips and this was soon followed up with the development of a no heat SPS solution. Since 2003 we have gone on to work on a wide range of offshore vessels and structures including OSVs, LNGs, Platform rigs, Semi Submersibles as well as FPSOs.
Because permanent SPS Overlay repairs can be applied in-situ quickly and with minimal disruption to operations, there is no need to cease production or relocate to a repair yard.
The “no hot work” version of SPS Overlay delivers a permanent repair using structural adhesives to join the steel components and form air tight cavities into which the elastomer core is injected. This design and process has been evaluated and approved by Classification Societies including ABS, DNV and LR. And in 2009 it was confirmed that SPS Overlay meets MARPOL requirements for side impact protection of FPSOs.
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