Modifying pivot points of gantries

During a condition survey job, carried out by IHC Technical Services experts, a problem was found on pivot points of the trunnion gantry of a hopper dredger. The load on the bronze bearing bushes caused the grease system to fail. It was decided to modify all gantries of the installation directly on site.

The bronze bushes were removed, and instead a special composite bearing bush was installed in combination with a stainless steel bearing surface. The new bearing set-up can take up to four times more pressure than bronze.