Mega maintenance project under great time pressure:

the Wagenborg Koeningsborg

Pon Power has completed a major maintenance project for the Walk to Work vessel Koeningsborg of Wagenborg Offshore. The Koeningsborg, an important vessel for the inspection and maintenance of unmanned platforms in the southern North Sea, required a thorough overhaul of four engines. Due to the unfavorable coincidence of service intervals and running hours, it became a particularly large task with corresponding time pressure.

The work of Wagenborg Offshore

Wagenborg Offshore is a well-known name in the offshore industry. With a fleet of nine custom-built vessels, they offer a variety of services, including walk-to-work services, sea towing and salvage operations, and decommissioning services. With their four Walk to Work vessels, they ensure an efficient and safe transfer of personnel and cargo using 3D motion-compensated gangways and cranes. The vessels are designed for high operability, meaning they can safely transfer personnel and cargo even in rough seas. The vessels can remain operational even in wave heights of up to 3 meters.

The Koeningsborg is Wagenborg Offshore’s fourth Walk to Work vessel. The Koeningsborg serves as a standby and support vessel for the inspection and maintenance of unmanned platforms in the southern North Sea. The extensive facilities on board, such as a sickbay, reception areas, a decontamination room, and additional sanitary facilities, make the vessel exceptionally well-suited to provide skilled and comfortable accommodation for personnel in the offshore industry.

Wagenborg Offshore and Pon Power

Wagenborg and Pon Power have been long-time partners, with a close collaboration characterized by mutual trust and efficient service agreements. Pon Power is responsible for the maintenance of 121 engines for Wagenborg, about twenty of which are for Wagenborg Offshore.

Rik Brandsma is a Superintendent at Wagenborg Offshore and manages three vessels in terms of certification and technical aspects. "The communication lines with Pon Power are short, and that works well for us. It's always easy to consult, and Pon Power understands what is important to us. This allows us to carry out maintenance efficiently and effectively. And in the case of the Koeningsborg, that was definitely necessary," Rik explains. "This vessel was recently converted from a previous owner, so we inherited the engine running hours. Normally, we would spread the maintenance across the engines, but that wasn't possible in this case."

As a result, the 10-year maintenance for all the Koeningsborg's engines had to be completed at once. Rik adds, "Four engines in one month is something we don't want, but it had to be done this time."

"The communication lines with Pon Power are short, and that works well for us. It's always easy to consult, and Pon Power understands what is important to us."

Planning proved to be key

Theo de Boer is Account Manager for Marine at Pon Power and was involved in this special maintenance project in that role. Theo explains, "When Wagenborg Offshore put this specific vessel into service a year and a half ago, we were also faced with the running hours and service intervals that overlapped. But nothing is impossible for us. We knew that with the right preparation and planning, a lot was possible."

The planning for this immense task began nearly a year in advance, with numerous meetings and consultations between Wagenborg Offshore and Pon Power. Rik describes the process: "There were many discussions between us and Pon Power. Early on, parts were ordered to be prepared for the intensive maintenance period." Theo adds, "Parts aren't just sitting on the shelf anymore, and delivery times can be long. A good plan is crucial here. I'd also like to give a big compliment to our Service Coordination Marine North in Den Helder for their work in this regard."

"While we were working with many technicians in the engine room, sometimes on weekends and in the evenings, the team in Papendrecht was also busy ensuring our parts were ready on time."

Logistics and the engine room

A particularly challenging aspect of this maintenance project was the logistical task of transporting engine parts from Delfzijl, where the Koeningsborg was located, to Pon Power's workshop in Papendrecht for maintenance, and then back again. Efficient collaboration was essential.

Salvatore Buonofiglio, Advanced Field Service Technician at Pon Power and the primary responsible person in the engine room for this project, had a front-row seat. "A large project like this can never be precisely planned in advance. As soon as we open up the engines, you're always faced with surprises. That was no different in this case. While we were working with many technicians in the engine room, sometimes on weekends and in the evenings, the team in Papendrecht was also busy ensuring our parts were ready on time."

Theo adds, "Without these streamlined processes, it would have been virtually impossible to complete this maintenance in such a short time. The same goes for the close collaboration with Wagenborg Offshore. It's great that we got the job done! A special word of thanks also goes to our technicians from our North Region, who made the impossible possible. Their dedication truly makes the difference."

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