Challenges of Calibration at Sea (Continued)

Arie Leeuwenburg, CEO of the Dutch company On Site Alignment, has a deep understanding of ship maintenance. He emphasizes that the majority of a ship's operational time is spent at sea, and when a ship malfunctions, it not only poses severe environmental and economic losses but could also directly threaten the lives of the crew. Therefore, proper maintenance of ships is of utmost importance.

Currently, the marine industry has become the primary service focus for On Site Alignment's field alignment work, accounting for 80% of its total business volume. In these daily tasks, On Site Alignment employs advanced alignment technology to precisely adjust rotating machinery on vessels, aiming to reduce vibration and address high-temperature issues, thereby effectively extending the vessel's service life. With over 40 years of industry experience and a professional technical team, On Site Alignment has earned the trust of numerous shipowners and possesses extensive experience in vessel mechanical maintenance, utilizing Easy-Laser® products as indispensable tools for maintenance.

When a mechanical component on a ship begins to vibrate, it affects the entire structure, not just the individual component, which could impact the operation of other machinery. Arie explains that if a ship encounters a failure at sea, it may require transportation to the nearest port via tugboat. This would incur costs for procuring new spare parts, expert repairs, and installation, as well as additional expenses for storing and delaying the delivery of goods, potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars to the daily expenditure, not to mention wasted resources and energy. Therefore, the alignment of mechanical components on a ship is a crucial aspect of the overall maintenance of rotating machinery.

Despite the obvious importance of maintenance, many shipowners still overlook it in reality. They tend to focus more on the immediate benefits of the vessel, neglecting the potential risks during long-term operation. Such short-sighted actions could lead to malfunctions at critical moments, resulting in incalculable losses. Therefore, enhancing shipowners' awareness of maintenance and strengthening daily vessel maintenance management is crucial for ensuring navigation safety.

In recent years, to minimize mechanical failures in ships, slow steaming has become a trend. Operating at low speeds indeed reduces maintenance costs for rotating machinery (the requirement for alignment at low speeds is relatively lower than at high speeds). However, slow steaming may also exacerbate internal engine contamination, increasing maintenance costs. Therefore, shipowners must find a balance between speed and efficiency, ensuring both efficient navigation and the good maintenance condition of the engines.

With the advancement of technology, a multitude of advanced equipment has been widely applied in the field of ship maintenance. As a professional service provider in the laser alignment and geometric measurement field, Easy-Laser® has been offering comprehensive measurement and calibration solutions to various industries for many years. Among them, the XT770 series equipment plays a significant role in the ship maintenance sector due to its efficient and precise performance. On Site Alignment Company, after purchasing the XT770, gave it high praise. Arie said, "This equipment should be installed on every ship. With proper maintenance, this machine can operate healthily and stably for years." The XT770 can perform the following operations:

Machine to China

✓ Inspecting Base Twist

✓ Inspect Bearing Clearance

✓ Check Soft Feet

With Time Measurement of Machine Movement

360° Real-Time Feature

◉ Offering comprehensive measurement and adjustment capabilities for greater flexibility and precision in adjustments.

Simultaneously tracks and adjusts in both vertical and horizontal directions without the need for turning the carriage to switch directions.

Multifunctional Application

◉ Not only can it perform shaft alignment tasks, but it can also check issues such as base twist, bearing clearance, and soft foot problems.

◉ Equipped with a trend monitoring function for China, it can achieve real-time monitoring of the centering status during the operation of the unit through optional fixtures.

Versatile and Diverse Measurement Methods

Supports continuous scanning and five measurement methods, including multi-point, to meet diverse measurement requirements in various scenarios.

Kong's Expertise in China Capabilities

◉ Accompanied by the Hole Centering Support Kit and the XT24 LaserEmitter, achieving hole center alignment is a breeze.

Optional XT9 receiver upgrade for smaller diameter measurement requirements.

Compatibility and Document Creation

◉ Seamless connectivity with iOS or Android devices or Easy-Laser®XT display units, enhancing operational convenience.

◉ Integrated with a "13MP" camera (optional built-in infrared camera), capable of adding machine thermal images before and after alignment.

Create and share PDF reports easily within the app, including all measurement data and images.

Kong to China

Vessel maintenance is crucial for ensuring safe navigation and extending the lifespan of ships. Shipowners should enhance their awareness of maintenance, strengthen daily management, and utilize advanced technology and equipment to improve efficiency. At the same time, a balance must be struck between speed and efficiency to ensure ships can navigate effectively while maintaining optimal maintenance conditions. Only then can we prolong the lifespan of ships, reduce resource waste, and collectively promote the sustainable and healthy development of maritime transportation.