Propeller Polishing, UWI & UWC Services Vietnam

Propeller Polishing, UWI and UWC Services

SVC Marine handles selected underwater jobs for vessels calling Vietnamese ports, anchorages and shipyards. The job scope depends on vessel location, port permission, weather, current, underwater visibility, diver safety condition, equipment availability and owner’s instruction.

Our underwater services may include:

• Propeller Polishing (PP): cleaning and polishing propeller blades to reduce surface roughness, fouling and performance loss.
• Underwater Inspection (UWI): visual inspection of hull, propeller, rudder, sea chest, anodes, draft marks and underwater fittings.
• Underwater Cleaning (UWC): hull cleaning, propeller cleaning, sea chest cleaning, grid cleaning and selected underwater maintenance work.
• Photo and Video Records: underwater evidence for owners, managers, charterers, class, P&I or internal technical review.
• Vessel-Side Attendance: practical follow-up with master, chief engineer, agent, diving team and owner’s technical department.

Why Propeller Polishing Matters

Propeller surface condition directly affects vessel propulsion efficiency. Marine growth, deposits, roughness and fouling on propeller blades can reduce thrust efficiency, increase fuel consumption, create vibration and affect vessel performance.

Propeller polishing is a practical afloat maintenance option when the vessel cannot enter drydock immediately but still requires underwater performance improvement, inspection evidence or technical condition review.

Depending on the vessel condition, propeller polishing may be requested before a long voyage, after slow steaming complaints, before charter inspection, after fouling accumulation, or as part of owner’s performance improvement work.

Typical Underwater Work Scope

Depending on vessel condition and owner’s instruction, SVC Marine may handle the following underwater work:

• Review vessel position, ETA, draft, berth or anchorage condition
• Check underwater service feasibility with local diving team
• Follow port, agent and vessel access requirements
• Mobilize qualified diving team and underwater tools
• Carry out propeller blade cleaning and polishing as per agreed scope
• Inspect hull, propeller, rudder, sea chest, anodes and requested underwater areas
• Clean sea chest grids, draft marks or selected underwater areas where permitted
• Collect photo and video records before, during and after the job where possible
• Verify diver comments with vessel crew where required
• Issue completion summary and owner-side report

Underwater Inspection Areas

Underwater inspection can be used for routine condition check, drydock planning, pre-purchase review, post-contact inspection, class-related attendance or operational troubleshooting.

Inspection areas may include:

• Hull bottom and side shell
• Propeller blades and propeller boss area
• Rudder, rudder stock area and steering-related visible parts
• Sea chest and grids
• Bilge keel and hull appendages
• Draft marks
• Thruster tunnel and grids where applicable
• Anodes and underwater fittings
• Visible coating damage, deformation or marine growth
• Rope, net or foreign object entanglement

Underwater Cleaning and Sea Chest Cleaning

Underwater cleaning may be required when marine growth affects hull condition, propeller efficiency, sea water intake, draft mark readability or vessel performance.

Cleaning work may include:

• Propeller cleaning and polishing
• Selected hull area cleaning
• Sea chest and grid cleaning
• Draft mark cleaning
• Removal of visible marine growth where permitted
• Before-and-after photo or video records where possible

Hull cleaning and underwater cleaning remain subject to port permission, local environmental rules, diving safety assessment, weather, current and underwater visibility.

Propeller Polishing Field Execution

Propeller polishing requires more than sending a diver into the water. The team must check vessel access, propeller condition, working area, underwater visibility, current, safety condition, required tools and reporting requirement before work starts.

SVC Marine follows the job from the vessel side and keeps the owner or manager updated with practical information, including diver mobilization status, job progress, visible findings, before-and-after records and any abnormal condition observed during the work.

If the diver finds visible propeller damage, rope entanglement, missing blade material, heavy cavitation marks or abnormal underwater condition, SVC Marine reports the finding to the owner or manager for further technical review.

Photo and Video Evidence

Underwater photo and video records are important because owners and managers may need evidence for performance review, charterer discussion, class, P&I, drydock planning or internal technical files.

Depending on water condition and equipment capability, reporting may include:

• Before-work propeller condition
• After-polishing propeller condition
• Hull fouling condition
• Sea chest and grid condition
• Draft mark visibility
• Visible underwater damage or abnormal findings
• Diver comments and practical work summary

Underwater visibility, current, weather and water condition may affect photo and video quality.

Vietnam Port and Anchorage Coverage

SVC Marine handles selected propeller polishing, UWI and UWC jobs at Vietnamese ports, anchorages and shipyards, subject to permission, diving safety condition, local access and diving team availability.

Northern Vietnam

Hai Phong, Lach Huyen / HICT, Dinh Vu, Nam Dinh Vu, Chua Ve, Tan Cang Hai Phong, Cai Lan, Hon Gai, Cam Pha, Quang Ninh, Van Gia, Mui Chua, Mong Cai, Nghi Son, Cua Lo, Nghe Tinh, Hon La and related northern Vietnam anchorages.

North Central and Central Vietnam

Vung Ang, Son Duong, Formosa Ha Tinh Port, Chan May, Da Nang, Tien Sa, Lien Chieu area, Ky Ha, Chu Lai, Dung Quat, Hoa Phat Dung Quat, PTSC Dung Quat, Quy Nhon, Thi Nai, Vung Ro, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Ba Ngoi and Van Phong Bay.

Southern Vietnam

Vinh Tan, Phu My, Cai Mep – Thi Vai, Tan Cang Cai Mep, CMIT, SSIT, TCIT, SP-PSA, Gemalink, Vung Tau, Sao Mai – Ben Dinh, Long Son, Dong Nai, Go Dau, Cat Lai, Hiep Phuoc, Saigon, Ben Nghe, Tan Thuan, SP-ITC, Lotus, Nha Be, My Tho, Can Tho, Cai Cui, Tra Noc and related southern Vietnam ports or anchorages.

Information Required for Quotation

To check underwater job feasibility and quotation, please provide complete vessel and job details as early as possible.

• Vessel name and IMO number
• Current port, anchorage, berth or ETA
• Vessel type, flag and class
• Required service: propeller polishing, UWI, UWC, hull cleaning, sea chest cleaning or draft mark cleaning
• Target underwater areas
• Reason for attendance: performance, fouling, class, damage check, pre-purchase, charter or drydock planning
• Required attendance date and vessel sailing schedule
• Agent contact and port access instruction
• Whether class, surveyor, P&I or superintendent attendance is required
• Required photo/video reporting format
• Any previous underwater report, photo, defect note or vessel crew comment

Operational Risks in Underwater Work

Underwater work can be delayed or limited by practical field conditions. These risks should be reviewed before diver team mobilization.

• Port or anchorage permission not granted
• Strong current or unsafe water condition
• Poor underwater visibility
• Weather and sea condition affecting diving safety
• Vessel schedule too short for proper work
• Launch boat or access restriction
• Class or surveyor attendance not aligned with diver availability
• Environmental restriction on hull cleaning
• Photo or video quality affected by water condition
• Scope unclear before team mobilization

Important Safety and Scope Notice

Propeller polishing, underwater inspection, underwater cleaning, hull cleaning, sea chest cleaning and diver attendance are subject to port permission, local regulation, environmental rules, weather, underwater visibility, current, vessel condition, diving safety assessment and qualified diving team availability.

SVC Marine provides local marine attendance, diving team mobilization, vessel-side follow-up, technical reporting and owner-side documentation. Final approval for class, flag, statutory, insurance or safety-critical matters remains with the relevant class society, flag administration, port authority, insurer, ship manager and vessel owner.