A leaking steel pipe on board a multimillion dollar super yacht required emergency repair after corrosion attacked a welded joint, leaving a hole through which water jetted out at 2 bar pressure whenever the bilge pump system went into operation.

Case Study Overview

Site Super yacht
Location United Kingdom
Pipe Type Steel pipe in bilge pump system
Pressure 2 bar
Repair Type Leak Repair
Products Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape, SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage

Pipe Defect

Bilge pumps are one of the most important systems on board any boat. Water and other fluids like engine oil naturally collect at the bottom of a vessel. A bilge pump removes this oily water by pumping it through a series of pipes and out via an exit hole in the hull.

This prevents overflow into other areas. An engine room flooding for example can damage machinery and electrics, potentially destroying the systems needed for the boat to sail.

A bilge pump also plays a vital role in the event of a hull breach. It can pump away water being taken onboard by the boat, buying time to slow or repair a leak. In the event of major damage, a bilge pump slows the vessel sinking, enabling more time for safe evacuation.

The super yacht bilge pump system featured a series of steel pipes. Corrosion had attacked a weakened spot at a welded joint, causing a hole to appear in a section of the line close to a 90-degree elbow and the hull of the boat.

Fitting a pipe repair clamp was impossible because of both the elbow bend and the leak being surrounded by other pipes and equipment in a cramped section below deck.

With water jetting out the pipe at 2 bar pressure whenever the bilge pump went into operation, the leak needed to be urgently sealed to keep the super yacht sailing safely until a new pipe could be fabricated and installed.

SylWrap Solution

A SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case was sent to the super yacht, from which Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape was used to seal the leak.

The tape was stretched by the maximum three times its length, despite the space constraints. As it was wrapped around the pipe, it self-amalgamated to form a solid rubber band containing the 2 bar pressure of the line.

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage was then used to reinforce the repair. It was wrapped and smoothed around the pipe, curing within minutes to form a rock-hard, impact resistant protective sleeve.

Outcome

Completing the application took under 30 minutes. Although SylWrap repairs are permanent, the super yacht still intended to replace the pipe when time in dry dock allowed.

Follow Up

Having discovered how quick and straightforward a SylWrap repair is, the super yacht now permanently carries a Pipe Repair Contractor Case on board.

It is easily stored in a cupboard and means the boat is equipped with enough products to make up to six emergency live leak repairs of different diameter pipes as soon as leaks occur – even when sailing the high seas.

Products Used

Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape
Self-fusing repair tape which amalgamates to form a solid rubber band over leak areas

SylWrap HD Bandage
Water-activated wrap sets rock hard to provide a protective shell around leak repairs

Pipe Repair Contractor Case
Easy-to-store Case containing enough Wrap & Seal and SylWrap for multiple repairs

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