Deck Opening & Closing

When large equipment in the engine room has to be replaced, the existing accesses are often too small for it to pass through, so a temporary opening is cut in the deck. Cutting the opening interrupts the continuity of the deck, so on closing up, the thickness of the insert plate, the arrangement of stiffeners, and the quality of the welding all have to bring the deck back to its original strength and watertightness.

The scope of work covers marking out and cutting the opening, supporting the lifting operation as equipment passes through, fabrication of the insert plate and stiffeners, and welding up and surface treatment afterwards. Opening size and the method of reinforcement are designed around the equipment's dimensions and the deck structure.