Page 38: of Marine News Magazine (November 2026)

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Tech Feature

Propulsion tional overhead. These unexpected breakdowns can also cre- ponents perform demanding work throughout the vessel’s ate additional costs associated with emergency repair work, operating life and provide valuable indicators of emerging expedited parts, overtime labor, and schedule disruptions. issues when knowing what to look for.

In many of these cases, the most signi? cant cost of Visual inspections can reveal signs of excessive wear, cor- equipment failure is the operational disruption that is rosion, loosened hardware, or developing misalignment. caused when trying to rectify the damages, quickly becom- Operators may also observe unusual vibration patterns, ing one of the most expensive things operators deal with abnormal operating temperatures, or other subtle indica- when managing a ? eet. tors that could warrant further investigation and attention.

Overall, the objective is not to create an overly compli-

Turning Existing Maintenance Windows Into Uptime cated inspection process, but rather to establish an effective

Opportunities program built around consistency rather than complexity.

The silver lining for operators is that improving reliabil- Easily repeatable inspection procedures performed dur- ity does not necessarily require creating entirely new main- ing maintenance activities often provide greater long-term tenance programs. In many cases, opportunities already value than infrequent and highly detailed reviews. exist within established maintenance windows.

Engine service intervals and other planned maintenance Managing the Realities of Brown-Water Operations events create natural opportunities to inspect adjacent While many of these reliability principles apply through- systems while equipment access is readily available. In- out the marine industry as a whole, inland waterways pres- corporating these additional inspections during scheduled ent operating conditions that require particular attention. maintenance windows often requires minimal additional Rivers often expose vessels to conditions that signi? cant- labor while allowing the potential to identify possible is- ly differ from those experienced by other offshore or blue- sues before they result in signi? cant downtime. water vessels. Floating debris, sediment, and varying water

Attention should be given to critical rotating equipment conditions can contribute to unique or increased wear on and drivetrain components, including couplings, shafting, critical equipment and place additional stress on the rotat- bearings, mounting hardware, and fasteners as these com- ing components.

Shallow-water operations also present additional chal- lenges. Groundings and underwater strikes may not always create immediate or signi? cant operational issues, but they can introduce hidden damage that continues to develop over time. Even relatively minor impacts have the potential to affect alignment, bearing condition, and overall drive- train performance among other things.

Towboats also operate under duty cycles that differ from many ocean-going vessels due to frequent maneuvering and stop-start operations with high torque and pushing loads. Because of this, components are often exposed to varying loads and stresses that may require different types of inspection priorities than systems that operate at rela- tively steady conditions over long distances.

It’s because of these realities that the best maintenance

Image courtesy Regal Rexnord/Getty Images strategies should re? ect the environment in which vessels

Some of the most valuable maintenance activities happen while equipment is already of? ine. By inspecting couplings, shafting, operate. Inspection intervals and maintenance priorities bearings, and other rotating equipment during planned service should be informed by the conditions these vessels oper- intervals, operators can uncover potential concerns early and ate in rather than relying solely on standardized schedules. help avoid costly downtime down the line. 38 | MN November 2026