Full Hull Cleaning and Propeller Polishing at Kerry Siam Seaport
- MaxiDive
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Full Hull Cleaning and Propeller Polishing at Kerry Siam Seaport
Underwater hull cleaning and propeller polishing are essential maintenance services for vessels operating in warm tropical waters, where marine growth can build up quickly on hull plating, appendages, sea chests, rudder assemblies and propeller surfaces.
MaxiDive recently completed a full hull cleaning and propeller polishing operation for a commercial vessel at Kerry Siam Seaport in Thailand. The scope of work included underwater removal of marine growth from the hull and appendages, sea chest cleaning, propeller cleaning and polishing using hydraulic and hand tools.
Project Overview
The vessel required full underwater cleaning due to scattered marine growth on the hull and underwater areas. The inspection report identified soft and hard marine growth including slime, barnacles and goose-neck barnacles on the port and starboard sides.
The flat bottom also showed light scattered soft and hard marine growth. Some areas showed coating wear consistent with anchor-chain abrasion near the bow area, while the overall visible paint condition was found to be good. No concave weld seams, structural damage or major underwater abnormalities were reported.
MaxiDive’s dive team carried out the cleaning operation to restore the underwater surfaces to a cleaner operating condition and provide visual documentation for the vessel’s records.
Hull Cleaning Scope
The hull cleaning operation covered key underwater areas including:
Port and starboard vertical sides
Flat bottom
Bilge keels
Sea chest gratings
Discharges
Transducers
Rudder area
Propeller assembly
Marine growth was removed using hydraulic and hand tools suitable for underwater ship maintenance. The sea chest gratings were cleaned by divers and confirmed secure with no movement, contact damage or abnormality noted.
Bilge keels on both port and starboard sides were found in good condition, with no contact damage or abnormality observed. Transducers were also reported mostly clean and in good profile.
Propeller Polishing
The propeller assembly was found partially covered by hard marine growth, soft marine growth and calcareous deposits. MaxiDive cleaned the propeller using hydraulic tools fitted with 3M Scotch pads, followed by polishing of the blade surfaces, blade palms and hub.
Before polishing, the initial blade surface roughness, excluding marine fouling, was assessed at Rupert “E”. After completion of the polishing process, the average blade surface roughness was improved to Rupert “A” — approximately 1 micron CLA.
This is an important result because propeller surface condition directly affects vessel efficiency. A smoother propeller surface helps reduce resistance, supports better propulsion performance and can contribute to lower fuel consumption during operation.
Findings After Cleaning
After the cleaning and polishing work, the rudder assembly was reported free from marine growth. The rudder paint coat appeared in excellent condition, with some areas of missing paint coat down to bare steel on the vertical side. The rudder hatch and drain plug were found secure, with no leakage noted.
The propeller was cleaned and polished, with one minor contact damage noted on blade B. No cavitation or cracks were observed.
The cleaning work also helped improve underwater visibility of the vessel’s key components, allowing the dive team to document the condition of the hull, appendages, propeller and rudder areas.
Why Full Hull Cleaning Matters
Marine growth can increase hull resistance, reduce vessel efficiency and make underwater inspection more difficult. In tropical operating areas such as Thailand, biofouling can develop quickly and may affect vessel performance if not managed regularly.
Full hull cleaning helps vessel operators:
Reduce drag caused by marine growth
Maintain cleaner underwater surfaces
Improve propeller operating condition
Support fuel efficiency and vessel performance
Keep sea chests and appendages clear
Receive photographic and video evidence for maintenance records
For vessel managers, shipowners and technical superintendents, underwater cleaning is not only a maintenance task. It is part of practical vessel performance management and operational reliability.
MaxiDive Underwater Cleaning Services in Thailand
MaxiDive provides commercial diving and underwater ship maintenance services across Thailand, including hull cleaning, propeller polishing, underwater CCTV inspection, photo inspection, sea chest cleaning, underwater blanking, plugging and emergency underwater repair support.
With experienced dive teams, hydraulic cleaning tools and professional reporting, MaxiDive supports vessel operators with practical underwater solutions at ports and anchorages throughout Thailand.
Conclusion
This full hull cleaning and propeller polishing project at Kerry Siam Seaport demonstrates MaxiDive’s ability to support commercial vessels with efficient underwater maintenance, marine growth removal and propeller surface improvement.
The operation helped restore cleaner underwater surfaces, improve propeller roughness condition and provide documented inspection evidence for the vessel’s technical records.
For vessels operating in Thailand, regular underwater cleaning and propeller polishing remain key services for maintaining vessel performance, reducing operational inefficiency and supporting safe marine operations.
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