At the tail end of 2020 ML (UK) Ltd carried out an extensive refit to ‘Split II’, one of ML (UK) Dredging’s two self propelled split hopper barges.

Split II is comprised of two steel constructed buoyancy tanks held together by way of a main pivot pin and hydraulic ram system. To gain access to the internal shell plating between the split our team at ML firstly used oxy-propane to burn out the main pivot pins fore and aft before utilising the hydraulic ram system to separate the tanks to allow access for the steelworks to be undertaken, literally splitting the vessel in two. Check out our project gallery below for photos!

ML (UK)’s welding and fabrication team led by Peter Halkyard, carried out works including fabrication of the forward hull split plates, bow plates, forward and ram space bulkheads and the main hold bulkheads to fore and aft. The main and aft hulls were re-plated as were the fore and aft decks.

The engineering team also replaced the main fuel piping and improved ram space access to the fore and aft, together with new forward combing. Split II also benefitted from having new hawse pipes, anchors, new main splitting pins and rebore, as well as new main fuel piping. The engine, propulsion and hydraulic systems were appraised, overhauled and serviced by ML UK’s team of inhouse marine engineers.

With over 40 tonnes of steel replaced, Split II was completed on schedule and deployed to her next contract immediately!