On the job
Class-approved TIG welding inside the boiler — carried out afloat, in confined space, to approved procedure.
Marine boiler repair · Afloat & in port
When a boiler tube cracks or a furnace develops a leak, the ship can't wait for dry-dock. Qualships isolates the fault, repairs it to approved procedures, and returns the boiler to service — at the berth, at anchor, across Australian ports.
Class-approved TIG welding inside the boiler — carried out afloat, in confined space, to approved procedure.
Boiler pressure-part failures are urgent and unforgiving. A single leaking tube can shut down steam supply, and a crack in the furnace or flue-gas duct only grows if it's fired on. Qualships carries out the two repairs that get a marine boiler safely back in service — tube plugging and welding, and furnace and tube welding — with the inspection and testing to back them up.
We work on marine auxiliary, composite and exhaust-gas boilers of smoke-tube and water-tube type, coordinating attendance and testing with your class surveyor from the first inspection through to the leak check.
What we do
Fast isolation of a failed water- or smoke-tube. We locate the leaking tube, blank it at both ends with maker-supplied plugs, and seal weld to approved procedure — returning the boiler to service without waiting for dry-dock.
The permanent fix. Defective tubes are cut out and new sections welded into the tube nest plate — gouging and grinding the old stub, preparing the bore, and fillet or butt welding the new tube to spec, then NDT and hydraulic test.
Cracks in the furnace, frame and flue-gas duct are ground out, crack-tested until sound, and weld repaired — stopping propagation before the next firing and protecting the surrounding pressure parts.
How we work
Confined-space entry, fireside cleaning, visual inspection and dye-penetrant crack testing to find the fault.
Individual tube pressure checking to positively identify the leaking tube or crack location.
Plug and seal weld, or gouge, prep and renew — welded to approved procedure by qualified welders.
NDT, fill and leak check or hydraulic test, surveyor sign-off, and a full photographic service report.
Recent job
On a composite auxiliary boiler, our team traced a water-side leak to a single tube, blanked it at both ends with maker carbon-steel plugs and seal welded it. A superficial crack on the flue-gas duct frame was ground out, dye-penetrant tested until crack-free and weld repaired. With the drum filled to full water level, no leaks were found — and the boiler was returned to its firing sequence.
Why Qualships
DNV and Lloyd's Register approved, welding to qualified procedures and coordinated with your attending surveyor.
Riding crews and workshop support at ports nationwide, with coverage extending to China, the USA and India.
Every job closed out with NDT records, test results and a photographic service report for your files and class.
Where we operate
Questions
Yes. A leaking tube can be isolated afloat or in port by plugging and seal welding at both ends, returning the boiler to service while a permanent renewal is planned for the next suitable opportunity.
Both. Plugging is the fast interim measure to isolate a failed tube; renewal by cutting out and welding in a new tube is the permanent repair. We advise which suits your schedule and class requirements.
Yes. Work is carried out to approved welding procedures by qualified welders. Qualships is DNV and Lloyd's Register approved, and we coordinate attendance and testing with the attending surveyor.
Marine auxiliary, composite and exhaust-gas boilers of smoke-tube and water-tube type, including makers such as Aalborg, Miura and Cochran.
Across Australian ports including Sydney, Newcastle, Port Kembla, Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle and Port Hedland, with service coverage extending internationally.
Boiler down? Talk to us
Tell us the vessel, port and fault. We'll mobilise an inspection and give you a repair plan and timeline.
Go Back to Services Request a Repair