The Jaczon-operated fishing trawler, Afrika, left Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen on 9 July, fresh from a period in drydock where she received a programme of repairs and upgrades.
Afrika’s fish tanks are temperature-controlled by refrigerated cold water and insulated with purofoam to prevent energy loss. This highly flammable material can only be used once and is difficult to remove due to its positioning “in between” steel walls.
A plan was devised to inject the space between the panelling and the deck with N2. The flow of oxygen was then closely monitored, and welding on deck successfully completed without having to remove the insulation.
As there was a strict time frame to adhere to, unforeseen repairs needed to be assessed quickly.
