Restoring a Mooring Winch Shaft for Optimal Performance

In the maritime industry, the reliability of critical components like mooring winches is essential for ensuring safe and efficient operations. These winches, responsible for securing vessels, adjusting mooring lines, and compensating for changing drafts and tides, are at the core of maritime safety.

A few years ago, we had the opportunity to restore a mooring winch shaft that had suffered from significant wear and tear and corrosion pitting, a common issue in harsh marine environments. This type of damage, if left untreated, can compromise the structural integrity of the equipment, increasing the risk of failure.

The Challenge: Corrosion Pitting Threatens Structural Integrity

The mooring winch shaft was in poor condition which threatened its performance and safety. Immediate action was required to restore the shaft’s integrity, ensuring it could continue to support the vessel’s critical mooring functions.

Our Solution: Precision Restoration with Brush Plating

At Sterling Impreglon Asia, we specialize in targeted, precision repairs using our proprietary Brush Plating process. For this mooring winch shaft, we implemented a multi-step approach that restored the shaft’s original dimensions and structural integrity, extending its service life.

Here is how we approached the restoration:

1. Targeted Damage Assessment: We carefully identified the areas affected by wear and tear as well as corrosion, ensuring that only the damaged sections were treated, preserving the healthy portions of the shaft.
2. Brush Copper Plating: Using our specialized Brush Plating process, we applied a controlled layer of copper to rebuild the corroded regions. This precise technique allows for excellent adhesion, ensuring that the repaired areas are durable and long-lasting.
3. Surface Refinement: Following the copper plating, our team meticulously blended the restored areas to match the shaft’s original surface profile, ensuring a seamless finish.
4. Protective Nickel Capping: To further enhance the shaft’s durability, we applied a nickel coating, providing both a functional and aesthetic finish that meets the demands of marine operations.

Results: Restoring Integrity and Performance

Through our Brush Plating process, we successfully restored the mooring winch shaft, ensuring that it was ready to perform its critical role in maritime operations. The benefits of this approach included:

• Enhanced Durability: The repaired shaft now has improved corrosion resistance and structural integrity; it looks as good as brand new.
• Minimal Downtime: Our precision process allowed for quick repairs, reducing expensive downtime, and avoiding the need for a costly replacement and inconvenience
• Cost-Effective Solution: By restoring the damaged areas rather than replacing the entire shaft, we helped the client save on substantial material and operational costs.