Dorman completes large cofferdam repair to HEBEI WISDOM

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The cofferdam under construction at the Dormac Marine yard in Durban

Durban ship repair company Dormac has completed successful repairs using its deepest ever cofferdam
repair in the port of Richards Bay.

The repair involved the Hosco-operated Capesize bulker HEBEI WISDOM (182,212-DWT) on which the
crew had detected water ingress while voyaging fully laden with iron ore towards the South African
coast. It was subsequently decided to head for Richards Bay and undergo an examination.
 Dormac sent a riding team to the northern KZN port and determined that the ship had a 1.5m crack on
the portside 15m below the waterline. The operators then made the decision to have a permanent
repair undertaken at Richards Bay using a cofferdam while the ship lay berthed at 306 at the coal
terminal. Prior to entering port a SAMSA (SA Maritime Safety Authority) inspection was carried out to
ensure the safety of the vessel before giving permission to enter port.

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the cofferdam is lowered into place alongside the Capesize bulker Hebei Wisdom on berth 306 at
Richards Bay

The repair required Dormac to build their deepest cofferdam so far 18m long by 2.4m and 1.2m which
would extend down the side of the vessel and underneath the bottom hull. Weighing in at 17 tonnes this
is the first Capesize vessel to be repaired using a cofferdam inside a South African port all other such
repairs having taken place at anchorages outside.

Working 15 meters below the waterline, the crack was cut out and a 2m by 0.6m (20mm) steel insert
was fitted under the supervision of a Class NK Surveyor sent out from Australia. The repair was
completed in record time causing little delay to the fully laden iron ore carrying vessel, which has now
continued her interrupted voyage.
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looking down and into the fitted cofferdam provides another impression of the size of this temporary
facility which allowed access to a ship requiring repairs without having to be discharged and dry docked.
The ladder at bottom right leads down beneath the ship