Recently, a well-known operator of both bulk carriers and various size tanker vessels had a severe problem of water ingress in the sterntube of one of their 85,000 dwt tankers. Because the vessel was using conventional system oil in the sterntube (not HYDROX), the vessel had to undergo emergency in situ seal repairs (done at sea by trimming the ship).

The costs incurred from this were as follows:

  $US
Cost of Seal repairs
10,000
Labour Costs
30,000
Loss of earnings while vessel is out of service (2 days) 60,000
Total 100,000

By comparison, the cost of Hydrox 550 would have been only $3,500 and unscheduled down-time would have been avoided.

By using Vickers' Hydrox, the owner/manager would have SAVED OVER $95,000 AND keep the vessel in continuous service.