Reconditioning of Controlable Pitch Propeller Blade-Foot Sealing Surfaces

Reconditioning of Controllable Pitch Propeller Blade-Foot Sealing Surfaces

Carl Baguhn Hamburg (CBH) completed the urgent reconditioning of four controllable-pitch propeller blades, with machining carried out over three days and all blades inspected, packed and ready for collection within 5 working days of arrival at the workshop.

The challenge

During a vessel’s scheduled docking, CBH was asked to provide urgent assistance with damaged propeller blade-foot sealing surfaces. The intervention required reconditioning both the sealing surfaces and the contact surfaces between the blade foot and the blade carrier.

Each blade weighed approximately 3,800 kg, with a blade-foot diameter of around 900 mm and an overall height of approximately 2,500 mm.

Damaged or uneven blade-foot sealing surfaces can compromise the proper operation of the propeller hub. Hydraulic oil may escape, causing pollution, while seawater ingress may lead to contamination, corrosion and damage to internal components.

The solution

Following the manufacturer’s technical specifications, Carl Baguhn Hamburg precision-machined the sealing and contact surfaces to restore the required geometry, surface condition and reliable sealing for reassembly.

The blades were set up on the machine on the afternoon of their arrival at the workshop. Machining began the following day and was completed for all four blades over three days.

The result

Following final inspection, all four reconditioned blades were packed and ready for collection within five working days of arrival at the workshop, meeting the customer’s tight time frame.