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Chronology of Events
Chief Engineer reported hard movement of hand steering during pilotage from Port Thames; steering switched to Auto mode. Vessel was ordered to anchor for troubleshooting by Port control.
Crew consulted SmartSeas.AI and found a sister vessel case (February 6, 2023) with similar symptoms and fix.
After disassembling, the team found the main shaft stuck in a dry sleeve bearing; bolts holding the sleeve bearing were locked/bent.
Corrective actions: shaft cleaned, sleeve bearing polished, damaged bolts replaced with spares.
Post-assembly tests showed smooth steering from hard-to-port to hard-to-starboard.
Fleet leadership circulated the resolution as a critical issue successfully resolved using SmartSeas.AI insights.
Root Cause Analysis
A dry sleeve bearing causing the main shaft to seize. Locked/bent bolts allowed the shaft and bearing to rotate together, scratching the housing surface. Lack of effective lubrication and fastener condition deterioration contributed to the fault.
Corrective Actions
Outcome & Impact
Steering was restored to smooth operation, averting a potential steering failure during operations. By leveraging SmartSeas.AI’s prior defect intelligence, the crew rapidly identified the failure mode and applied a proven fix.
Preventive Actions & Recommendations
Tangible Cost–Benefit (Per Incident)
| Category | WITHOUT SmartSeas | WITH SmartSeas | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtime (2 Days @ $35k/day) | $ 70,000 | $ 17,500 | $ 52,500 |
| Dispensation & admin | $ 2,000 | $ 0 | $ 2,000 |
| Extra tug assistance | $ 8,000 | $ 0 | $ 8,000 |
| Repair method (Tech + Spares) | $ 15,300 | $ 300 | $ 15,000 |
| PSC/Audit Risks (Adjusted) | $ 10,150 | $ 263 | $ 9,887 |
| TOTAL Tangible Savings | $ 105,450 | $ 18,063 | $ 87,387 |
Annual Tangible Value (Fleet Level)
| Metric | Value | Formula / Source |
|---|---|---|
| Incidents (Similar incidents per year) | 4 | Average as per client data |
| Per-incident savings | $ 87,387 | Tangible Savings (per incident) |
| Annualized tangible value | $ 349,548 | Incidents x Per-incident savings |
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