TENMAT HELP OLD LADY BACK TO SEA
When Thames Ship Repair was faced with over hauling and updating the steer gear on an old Tug Boat they contacted TENMAT for help, first contact was our Web Information request page.
The Sea Challenge II based in the Port of London England was built by Gutehoffnungshütte Sterkrad in1969 in Germany.Originally fitted with grease lubricated Cast Iron bearings on a Kort Type Nozzle steering Gear ( Ducted Propeller), with an estimated weight of the steering gear was 3.1/2 tonnes.
After discussions with Thames ships on how much of the original gear was to be reused, it was proposed that TENMAT LTD would supply FEROFORM grade T14 bushes and thrust washers in a semi finished state, this would allow other work to be carried out on the boat and on the steering gear. This would allow for the bush bore to be finish on site once the final sizes were known.
Close communication between the yard and TENMAT technical department meant that sizes were agreed and even modified within minutes as metal changes evolved so that the final machining could be done which allow the bushes to be fitted and the boat launched as quickly as possible.
by Julian Greenhalgh
