Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation has supplied a specially designed sealing system for a unique floating dry dock door at Ersai shipyard in Kuryk, Kazakhstan.
Designed to allow vessels to enter from different points of the water, the Ersai dry dock, means ship owners and operators can now conduct technical inspections, as well as repair and reconstruct vessels of various sizes.
Trelleborg was asked by Saipem, which reconstructed the dry dock, to provide a purpose-built, leak-free solution that could successfully seal the dry dock door. Saipem specified the Gina gasket, which ensures watertight closure for improved port sustainability, as well as greater tolerance bandwidth and low jacking force.
Jacopo Cerva, Business Unit Offshore, at Saipem, said: “Ersai’s dry dock door is like no other thanks to its distinctive floating hydraulic lock, which allows vessels to enter from different points of the water. A landmark project such as this meant it was imperative to rely on an experienced, trustworthy partner, to successfully seal the dry dock door.
“We specified Trelleborg’s Gina gasket due to its superior performance and ease of installation. And importantly, the gasket eliminates the need for a conventional auxiliary pump, which can cause increased carbon dioxide emissions and project costs, so we were able to reap significant sustainability benefits too.”
Traditionally, Trelleborg’s bespoke Gina gaskets are manufactured from a blend of natural rubber and styrene butadiene rubber, enabling excellent mechanical properties with low water absorption. Supplied as a U-frame, the gasket provides greater tolerance bandwidth and is a first-choice for heavy-duty applications. It also combines very low friction with impact strength and wear resistance superior to that of steel, as well as a low jacking force due to its various levels of hardness. This force accommodates for the variation in hydrostatic pressure in the dry dock.
Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation, commented: “It is commonplace to see non-engineered, extruded gaskets used on dry dock doors. However, these solutions require auxiliary pumps to displace unwanted water from within. Our Gina gasket is available in various different sizes and provides a perfect alternative to conventional solutions, which commonly require more steel being used during installation.
“Our Gina gasket will perform for around 50 years without maintenance while in place at the Ersai shipyard. We look forward to witnessing the success of the shipyard and seeing how the Caspian Sea area benefits from the modernization of the dry dock.”
For more information about Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation, or any of its products and solutions, click here.
For more information about Ersai and its shipyard, click here.
