When it comes to maritime operations, maintaining critical equipment while a vessel is in transit is particularly challenging due to limited space, constant movement, and the need to avoid disrupting essential operations. Recently, New Start Energy completed an extensive Life Cycle Maintenance project aboard the Subsea 7 Borealis, ensuring uninterrupted operations during its 35-day transatlantic journey from Trinidad and Tobago to Ghana. The Borealis is a pipelay and heavy-lift vessel capable of operating in the world’s harshest environments, making maintenance during transit even more critical.
The Scope of the Project
Our task involved maintaining 105 Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), including:
- 4 x ACS800-01 Drives
- 16 x ACS800-104 Drives
- 85 x ACS800-104 Liquid-Cooled Drives
- 10 x Cooling Systems
Each drive was serviced individually in approximately 4-6 hours, reflecting our team’s exceptional efficiency and dedication. Our engineer worked 12-hour days to complete the project on schedule without disrupting the vessel’s operations.
Critical Maintenance Performed
Our meticulous service process involved replacing and upgrading essential components to ensure long-term reliability. Key replacements included:
For the Drives:
- Fans
- DC Capacitors
- Discharge Resistors
- NRED Resistors
- Main Circuit Interface Boards
- Flat Ribbon Cables
- Power Supplies
- DC Bus-Bar Insultation Kits
Additionally For Liquid-Cooled Drives:
- New Water-to-Air Heat Exchangers
- Pressure Testing of Cooling Circuits
For Cooling Systems:
- New Expansion Tanks
- Pump Performance Inspections
- System Flush, Refill, and Pressure Testing
Why It Matters
By performing maintenance while the Subsea 7 Borealis was in transit, we minimized downtime, reducing costly delays and ensuring continuous operational efficiency—a critical advantage in the competitive marine industry. Our team’s expertise ensured that every drive received comprehensive service, reducing future risks of failure and extending equipment lifespan.
Partner with Experts
Maintaining equipment in demanding marine environments requires skill, precision, and commitment. For example, during the Subsea 7 Borealis project, our team overcame the challenge of limited workspace by creating a rotating maintenance schedule, ensuring every drive was serviced efficiently while minimizing disruption to vessel operations. New Start Energy delivers industry-leading service tailored to maritime operations, ensuring vessels remain operational even during maintenance.
Need expert maintenance for your drives and cooling systems?
Contact us today to learn how we can support your operations with efficient and reliable solutions.