Rapid Engine Overhaul for Dampier Tug

Problem

The client, a prominent marine services provider, urgently required a full overhaul of the Deutz SBV9M engines on one of its 33-meter Class A tugs, operating in Dampier, WA. Given the critical nature of the tug’s operations and its remote location—over 1,500 km from Perth—the overhaul needed to be completed efficiently to minimise downtime and maintain fleet reliability.

Solution

Our team at Royston Australia mobilised promptly to Dampier with a specialised crew to initiate the overhaul. On-site, the engines were fully stripped, and a part of our team returned to our Perth workshop with critical components. This allowed us to overhaul essential parts such as pistons, cylinder heads, turbochargers, fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and coolers. Meanwhile, the remaining team in Dampier continued cleaning the engines and preparing for reassembly. During the reassembly, our team identified an issue with the governor, necessitating further investigation. Our Operations Manager traveled to Dampier to personally assess and identify the issue. This was necessary to communicate with the Governor OEM and ensure a solution was put in place without delay. Additionally, the ABB VTR 251 turbochargers required new rotating components. Leveraging our international network, we sourced these hard-to-find parts and installed them to restore turbocharger functionality.

Result

Following the repairs, the engines were successfully sea trialed, confirming their full operational readiness. Our swift response and comprehensive overhaul allowed the client to resume tug operations with minimal disruption, ensuring reliability in their marine support services in Dampier.

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