11 Años Despues-ASTILLEROS MEC

En 1999, Marine Pollution Prevention & Consulting Services, empezó a brindar servicios en Panamá. En ese entonces, no estábamos muy seguros sobre el rumbo que tomaría la empresa. Sabíamos que el sector marítimo panameño, no estaba todavía explotado, y que la reversión del

Canal a Panamá, traería oportunidades para los emprendedores con ganas de hacer sacrificios y trabajar duro.

Con mucho esfuerzo, empezamos a dar servicios de Peritaje e Inspecciones Navales, Avalúos, Reportes de Averías, Inspecciones de Estado, entre otros servicios de consultoría maritima que en aquel entonces, estaban reservados para empresas con largo linaje dentro de la historia del Canal de Panama. Sin embargo a medida que inspeccionábamos mas naves locales, nos dábamos cuenta del vacío que había en la Reparación Naval, lo cual hacia contraste con las actividades de Servicios Marítimos Auxiliares del Golfo de Mexico y otros paises en donde pudimos trabajar.

Hoy, Marine Engineers Corporation (Panama) Inc. bajo diferentes líneas de servicios y marcas registradas, es sin duda un ejemplo de lo que el sacrificio, la buena administración, trabajo arduo y fe en Dios, puede lograr. Luego de 11 años, el 30° de abril del 2010, el antiguo Astillero Veracruz, paso a ser propiedad de MEC, y a operarse bajo la Marca Registrada: MEC SHIPYARDS o ASTILLEROS MEC.

La pequeña ceremonia improvisada donde se recibieron las llaves, fue un momento conmovedor entre miles de momentos amargos de dificultades y obstáculos, que se vivieron durante los 11 años que tomo esta hazaña.

Al día siguiente, lo que nadie esperaba, se hizo realidad. La primera nave entraba, a menos de 24 hrs del traspaso del título de propiedad del Astillero, en lo que sería un desfile de naves, en donde una tras otra, recibirían los servicios que tantas veces MEC realizo a flote o como sub contratista, ahora bajo su propio Astillero.

Hoy la empresa de más de 200 empleados, 40,000 m2 de área de infraestructura, 11 años de experiencia, 5 Divisiones de Negocios, su propia flota de equipos flotantes, aunque es una empresa familiar, tiene una estructura de Gobierno Corporativo, que poco a poco, se enmarca en lo que serán las próximas metas a alcanzar, las cuales ya no parecen imposibles, al haber demostrado, que los sueños, si se pueden hacer realidad.

VISITE: http://www.mecshipyards.com/

MECSHIPYARDS-PANABUNKER I

Sometimes, our customer’s needs are difficult ones, but even so, we are obliged to assist with all our resources to help.

This was the case for the Bunker Self Propelled Barge PANABUNKER I, with a Cargo Capacity of 2,450 tons, from our good customers of Boluda-Compañia Maritima de Panama.

Due to the new Double Hull Regulation, the barge was forced to finish his operation in December 2010; however the authorities were not in the position to allow the vessel a larger extension unless there was a dry dock visual inspection in place.

Our customers, request space for docking within 2 days, and having the barge cleaned, and high pressure washed for the inspection in less than 12 hrs, in order to allow the charter contract to continue just 48 hrs after the docking operation.

With a record docking time, we take the heavy barge in our yard, and in less than 6 hrs, the vessel was in position, with his expensive harbor master propellers cleared with the right high above the ramp, and the right bed supporting the barge.

What even ourselves did not believe was possible, was done with team work and high efforts. In 72 hrs, the Barge was docked, cleaned, washed, inspected, and undocked back to be in service and operation for the compliance of our customer needs.

One more time a customer was satisfied and as our slogan, we provide a COMPLETE REPAIR SOLUTION.

MECSHIPYARDS-MY TRUE NORTH- BLOG 1

It is hard to imagine something more beautiful, than a 17 million dollar luxury yacht. And when we received the request from one of our good customers to dock the beauty TRUE NORTH, we hesitate to take such an expensive and beautiful boat on our facilities. Even so, we take the challenge and receive the lady on July 27th 2010. The line of the True North, was very sharp, and the special bed, we prepared was done with extra care in order to take the "V" shape of the Aluminum Hull on a safety way.

At 0440 in the morning, we start the maneuver to take the lady. The line handlers where waiting on the cradle and the pilot bring the ship with extra care, kneeing that any mistake will cost millions of dollars. However his steel temple was one more time a valuable resource for the safety of the operation, and the ship reach its position safe and easily.

One hour later, the Winch started to tow the vessel up in the slipway ramp, and at 1000 am, the True North was resting calm and easy on the yard.

The paint crew starts to scrap the marine growth, and by late afternoon that day, the boat was clean from any barnacles on an efficient and fast way. However it did not stop there, immediately the water blasting work started, and the high pressure inspection washing commenced at both sides simultaneously.

By the second day, the paint was already visible and the works for grit blasting started. However what nobody has anticipated was a reality. The propulsion system at both propellers was highly out of alignment and special work was required, as well as the use of CUSTOM MADE Thordon Bearings.

With the highest standard, we decided to travel next day to the United States, in order to coordinate the delivery to our hands of the Bearing required, with an overnight Fedex service that as always, was just in time.

On Sunday the bearings where ready on the shop, making a new record of 3 days delivery from the factory to the shop, and complying with the customer time requirements one more time.

And the Repairs go on....to be continuing....

MEC SHIPYARDS-MV Bocas Mariner Docking Operation

It was an early thursday morning and the MV BOCAS MARINER, was underway to our Yard Slipway. Everybody was nervous, since after 4 docking and undocking operations, our team knew that everything was required to be done with accurancy.

The Pilot, guide the ship right into the cradle and altough it was looking like an easy task, the experience and skills to perform this operation where no to be easily underestimate.

After several minutes that where like hours, the vessel finnaly was sitted on the cradle, just in the right position and with the right angle.

Then the next part of the operation, commenced. The newly installed 37 ton bollard pull certified winch starts to pull the vessel out of the water.

On the previous 4 operations since the purchase of the facility, on March 15th 2010, the winch performance was always perfect.

However the configuration of the cradle and blocks, where always a delicate operation. Smoothly and with the perfection of an operation well organized, the vessel started to get out of the water.

Historicly an operation on this shipyard for vessels this size, has a duration of a minimum 36 hrs.

However even when the first vessel, just the next day after receiving the yard, take about this time, the next 3 where considerbly shorter on time, and all the team was expecting this vessel not to be the difference.

Finnaly after 9 hrs of operation, since the Pilot board the vessel, the MV BOCAS MARINER, sister ship of the MV BURICA MARINER, also repaired on the yard, was in position to start ship repair operations.

If you want to learn more about our Ship Repair Services, please go to http://www.mecshipyards.com/. If you want to book space for your vessel repair, please do not hesitate to contact us at +507-6674-7992 or send us an email to sales@mecpanama.com, with your vessel particulars and before 1 hrs, you will receive an estimation of the dry docking costs.

MEC SHIPYARDS-Guide to Ship Accidents

Ships passing the Panama Canal are under the risk to suffer an accident. Although the statistics are on the side of the Canal very professional Pilots, with less than 0.1% of accidents per year, vessel equipment malfunction, bad visibility during the heavy rains, heavy swells outside the Cristobal breakwater, and even human error from vessel's crew or the Pilot, cause at least 10 incidents and accidents on the Canal every year.
The following is a Guide for Ship Managers, about some steps that we recommend to follow, after more than 10 years repairing vessels at the Panama Canal.

Control

The Panama Canal is the only navigation way where a Pilot executes complete control over the ship he is transiting. As said above, the statistics are on the side of the Pilots, but the fact is that the following sections of the transit are dangerous and the Masters should take extra care.

Cristobal Breakwater, Gatun Locks North Entrance, Pedro Miguel Locks North Entrance, Miraflores Locks South Entrance and the base of the Americas Bridge.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) takes his work seriously, and they have deploy from several years ago, the Canal EVTMS a NASA inspired, state of the art vessel control system, very efficient controlling the traffic.

A 0.1% accident rate per year, means probably that the Panama Canal is the safeties water way of the world, however it does not mean that accidents do not happen or will not happen. Every year for sure, there will be accidents on the canal, and our aim is to help you to take the right steps if one of your vessels suffer an accident in the Canal or in any part of the world.

Who is Responsible?

Be aware that under Panama Canal regulations, if your vessel has an accident during the transit of the Canal, the Pilot, and therefore the ACP is held responsible for the accident, if and only if, the accident was not caused due to a malfunction of any equipment of the vessel or a human error from any crew member of your ship.

What to Do?

1st - Your Master should follow the Panama Canal Pilots Instructions. However if the integrity of the vessel is seriously compromised, remember that the single person on board that knows better the vessel, is the Captain; that means that, the Master should follow the best seamanship and do what he has to do in order to save the lives of the people on board and the ship. Dropping both anchors is always a very good measurement. Do not worry about south or north bound traffic, as said above, the EVTM System of the ACP, has a tight control of the traffic and they will stop any dangerous traffic approaching to your vessel.

2nd - Asses your damages and vessel situation. Urgently but calm review the following areas:

a) Is there any compartment of the vessel affected and taking in water?

b) Is the safety of the vessel seriously affected? Will the vessel sunk?

c) Is there any body injured?

d) Are your vessel systems working? Propulsion, steering?

e) Call your Vessel Stations, and ask for damage reports!

f) Check your draft, is the draft is getting deeper, you are taking water!

h) Call for Tug Boats, at least two!

3rd - Either a grounding or a collision with another vessel or lock at the Panama Canal, will not have a serious "abandon ship emergency situation". During the last 10 years on the Canal performing repairs, and 5 of those as a Tug Boat Master on a part time work, I have never seen or received reports of such a serious situation. Therefore, even the strongest collision, will eventually require your vessel to be moved to safe area, in order to start the investigations. You Master should follow your company policy about information disclosure, but in any case be aware that as per Notice to Mariner 09-2010 and inspection will be done by the Board of Local Inspectors, and if you want the Canal to pay for the damages on the court, you will need your Master to await for the full investigation.

4th - Call MEC SHIPYARDS to the 24/7 Contact Details on our web page http://www.mecshipyards.com/ (+50766747992 or to our email: sales@mecpanama.com ), in order to carry on immediately a professional experienced inspection of the damages. This inspection will be done by our Commercial Diving Team and by our Naval Architects, all experience on salvage, temporary and permanent underwater ship repair and top side ship repair. MEC SHIPYARDS & UNDERWATER SERVICES have ACP and AMP approvals to perform such inspections in Canal Waters and also UWS has approval by the following Class Societies to perform such inspections: DNV, BV, LR, ABS, GL and NKK, with Underwater Video Camera CCV Equipment with Communications.

5th - Call your DP inside your ISM System to report the damages and situation. Give your DP details of the time UNDERWATER SERVICES has confirmed the attendance to the vessel. If you have not yet call UWS, then ask permission to your DP, and proceed to call immediately. Every second passing, is affecting the safe of your vessel and the time charter of your ship owner.

6th - Follow the Instructions of the Pilot, in order to bring the vessel to a safe anchorage.

7th - Stop your engines and propeller turning. Remember that divers will be on the water soon, and is prohibited for the safe of the divers, to turn the propeller when divers are underwater.

8th - Join the Engineers on our Diving Work boat in order to view LIVE, the actual situation of your vessel shell plates and underwater hull. The divers have also communication, so you can talk to them in order to put more emphasis on any damage area you may be concerned.

9th - Once you have seen the damages, you may have a better view of the situation. MEC SHIPYARDS will perform the best technical proposal for your vessel. Send the proposal to your ship managers, do not hesitate to call us, if you have any question about the Ship Repair.

10th - Be calm, and happy that no lives have suffer any injury, all damages are repairable and are just material costs that an insurance either from the Canal or from the vessel will pay eventually. Be sure that MEC SHIPYARDS will carry on, a very professional, cost effective and fast repair.

REMEMBER we hold the record in the area 57 TONS OF STEEL RENEWED ON 15 DAYS.

This recommendations are given without prejudice and should not be taken as a navigation instruction or safety guide. The recommendations above are result of the experience of the author as a Tug Boat Master at the Panama Canal waters and the experience of more than 10 years as a Ship Repairer.