Russia completes Indian carrier engine repairs

[SpArK]

Russia completes Indian carrier engine repairs
​

Moscow, Feb 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's Sevmash shipyard has fixed the engine problems which caused a delay in the delivery of the refitted aircraft carrier Vikramaditya to the Indian navy last year, a United Shipbuilding Corporation source said Friday.



"All the problems with the boiler insulation have been fixed by Russian specialists with the use of Russian-made components," the source said, adding that the ship will sail for additional sea trials in the White Sea in June.


The Vikramaditya, which is already years past its original 2008 delivery date, was supposed to have been handed over Dec 4, 2012, but sea trials in September revealed the ship's boilers were not fully functional.


The source of the problem, which reduced the ship's maximum speed, was due to use of low-grade Chinese-made firebricks in the boiler insulation instead of asbestos, according to Russian shipbuilders.


Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy director of Russia's Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service (FSVTS), said previously that the carrier will be delivered to India in November 2013.

New Delhi has shown signs of impatience over the Vikramaditya's tortuous refit and, at a meeting in October 2012, demanded compensation from the Russians for the latest delay in delivery, Defense News reported. The Russians rejected that claim, saying the parts which failed had been bought by the Indian Navy.


Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony repeated the claim in December.

"Rectification of the defect is likely to take six months. Liquidated Damages (LD) clause for delays in delivery is incorporated in the contract," Antony was quoted as saying. "As per contract, LD is to be ascertained and levied within six months of ship's delivery," he added.


India and Russia signed the original $947 million dollar deal in 2005 for the purchase and refit of the carrier, but delivery has already been delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the ship to $2.3 billion.


The Vikramaditya was originally built as the Soviet Project 1143.4 class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Project 1143.4 carriers and a class of destroyers with the same engines suffered a history of boiler failures during their service lives.


The ship was laid down in 1978 at the Nikolayev South shipyard in Ukraine, launched in 1982, and commissioned with the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was renamed after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. In 1994, the Gorshkov sat in dock for a year for repairs after a boiler room explosion. In 1995, it briefly returned to service but was finally withdrawn and put up for sale in 1996.
The ship has a displacement of 45,000 tonnes, and an endurance of 25,000 km at a cruising speed of 18 knots. It will have an air wing consisting of Russian-made MiG-29K jet fighter planes and Kamov Ka-31 early warning radar helicopters.


Some of the MiG-29K fighters have already been delivered to India.


Russia completes Indian carrier engine repairs

 

[perplexed]

chinese bricks were shitty or not.. the responsibility of it's use lies with russia and India and so are the delays.. finally !!! Some thing to rejoice for IN ..

 

[kurup]

Good news .

Hope it doesnot encounter any more problems.

 

[nair]

Russia has completed repairs on INS Vikramaditya, fixing the engine problems that caused a delay in the delivery of the refitted aircraft carrier to India last year.

“The Severodvinsk Shipbuilding Enterprise Sevmash has finished the repairs to the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya [Admiral Gorshkov],” the Interfax news agency reported on Friday quoting an official in the Russian Navy General Staff.

Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation has confirmed the report, adding that sea trials of the aircraft carrier would resume in summer.

During the sea trials last year the ship developed propulsion problems when insulation firebricks on the boilers started to fall out when the engines were run at full power. The repairs involved replacing the insulation lining between the boiler steel casing and ceramic firebricks.

Even though the problem has been fixed, the aircraft carrier cannot leave the shipyard till summer when the ice-clad White Sea reopens for navigation.

Russian officials said earlier that the aircraft carrier would be delivered to India in November 2013.

The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : Repairs to INS Vikramaditya completed, says Russia

 

[Alphacharlie]

Russia completes Indian carrier engine repairs
​

Moscow, Feb 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's Sevmash shipyard has fixed the engine problems which caused a delay in the delivery of the refitted aircraft carrier Vikramaditya to the Indian navy last year, a United Shipbuilding Corporation source said Friday.



"All the problems with the boiler insulation have been fixed by Russian specialists with the use of Russian-made components," the source said, adding that the ship will sail for additional sea trials in the White Sea in June.


The Vikramaditya, which is already years past its original 2008 delivery date, was supposed to have been handed over Dec 4, 2012, but sea trials in September revealed the ship's boilers were not fully functional.


The source of the problem, which reduced the ship's maximum speed, was due to use of low-grade Chinese-made firebricks in the boiler insulation instead of asbestos, according to Russian shipbuilders.


Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy director of Russia's Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service (FSVTS), said previously that the carrier will be delivered to India in November 2013.

New Delhi has shown signs of impatience over the Vikramaditya's tortuous refit and, at a meeting in October 2012, demanded compensation from the Russians for the latest delay in delivery, Defense News reported. The Russians rejected that claim, saying the parts which failed had been bought by the Indian Navy.


Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony repeated the claim in December.

"Rectification of the defect is likely to take six months. Liquidated Damages (LD) clause for delays in delivery is incorporated in the contract," Antony was quoted as saying. "As per contract, LD is to be ascertained and levied within six months of ship's delivery," he added.


India and Russia signed the original $947 million dollar deal in 2005 for the purchase and refit of the carrier, but delivery has already been delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the ship to $2.3 billion.


The Vikramaditya was originally built as the Soviet Project 1143.4 class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Project 1143.4 carriers and a class of destroyers with the same engines suffered a history of boiler failures during their service lives.


The ship was laid down in 1978 at the Nikolayev South shipyard in Ukraine, launched in 1982, and commissioned with the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was renamed after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. In 1994, the Gorshkov sat in dock for a year for repairs after a boiler room explosion. In 1995, it briefly returned to service but was finally withdrawn and put up for sale in 1996.
The ship has a displacement of 45,000 tonnes, and an endurance of 25,000 km at a cruising speed of 18 knots. It will have an air wing consisting of Russian-made MiG-29K jet fighter planes and Kamov Ka-31 early warning radar helicopters.


Some of the MiG-29K fighters have already been delivered to India.


Russia completes Indian carrier engine repairs

The Main point is Post Delivery and user Acceptace Tests are clear - What will be life of "NewBolier" ???

The ship should Not go for Refit or service before 5 years.............

This episode, does dent India Russia Relations, but Gives a CLEAR MESSAGE ........

Russian have Got a Message, in case they Deliver poor QUALITY than SQR then, we will EXPLORE Other Markets - In simple Terms " Money Talks & BullSHIT Walks" Out..........

 

[Sergi]

The Main point is Post Delivery and user Acceptace Tests are clear - What will be life of "NewBolier" ???

The ship should Not go for Refit or service before 5 years.............

This episode, does dent India Russia Relations, but Gives a CLEAR MESSAGE ........

Russian have Got a Message, in case they Deliver poor QUALITY than SQR then, we will EXPLORE Other Markets - In simple Terms " Money Talks & BullSHIT Walks" Out..........

I think sir There will be trials for boiler. That's why we will be getting ship in Nov/Dec. otherwise we can get it when snow melts in late April or early May

 

[anant_s]

Somehow that story f boiler insulation being the main reason for delays in not digestible. Thermal insulation for far bigger boilers and steam lines, working at far higher temperature is common technology and indigenous components are used in Power plants and chemical industry. Such a petty issue can derail ship testing that too after so many delays is really beyond me.
Well it looks there are some other issues with the AC and this boiler thing is used as an umbrella.

What will be life of "NewBolier" ???

As we know that original ship was taken out of service due to boiler explosion, so in all likelihood the Boilers are brand new. These are usually governed by IBR stipulations and barring usual problems of tube puncture, the boilers should give good service.

 

[fast]

As we know that original ship was taken out of service due to boiler explosion, so in all likelihood the Boilers are brand new. These are usually governed by IBR stipulations and barring usual problems of tube puncture, the boilers should give good service.

I doubt there are new boilers. The news didn't say anything about new boilers. The Russians most likely just patched up the exploded ones, added in the insulation, and called it done. Indians will have to live with the damaged "new boilers."

 

[anant_s]

I doubt there are new boilers. The news didn't say anything about new boilers. The Russians most likely just patched up the exploded ones, added in the insulation, and called it done. Indians will have to live with the damaged "new boilers."

For the sake of safety of people onboard the ship, i sincerly hope that is not the case.

Secondly, owing to my work, i keep referring to boiler and steam generator codes very frequently and am sure (unless there is some massive scandal), exploded boilers are never taken back in service especially if the shell (the part which contains steam) integrity is compromised, it has to be rebuilt and hydro tested again.
Another point, the use of asbestos is also puzzling. Asbestos is a cancer causing material and banned world wide. I believe what they have now used (in place of bricks) is Glass wool.

 

[Sergi]

For the sake of safety of people onboard the ship, i sincerly hope that is not the case.

Secondly, owing to my work, i keep referring to boiler and steam generator codes very frequently and am sure (unless there is some massive scandal), exploded boilers are never taken back in service especially if the shell (the part which contains steam) integrity is compromised, it has to be rebuilt and hydro tested again.
Another point, the use of asbestos is also puzzling. Asbestos is a cancer causing material and banned world wide. I believe what they have now used (in place of bricks) is Glass wool.

Dam picture look like Chiken roll
Boiler wasn't the only thing. Few equipments bought by IN from other suppliers failed too.
So replacement and repair work need time. Now evenif it's done due to the freezing of water you can't take Vikidi out for trials. So we have to wait for ice to melt. After that "Vikidi" will complete the reaming sea trails. And after the complete assessment from RuN it will be handled over to IN.
I think trials will begine in May as like last year and will complete in July-Aug. Russians are just being cautious to give us Nov/Dec if something go wrong again. If not there are high chances we getting Vikidi in Aug/Sept

 

[arp2041]

I doubt there are new boilers. The news didn't say anything about new boilers. The Russians most likely just patched up the exploded ones, added in the insulation, and called it done. Indians will have to live with the damaged "new boilers."

Who said that Boilers of the INS Viky got damaged??? It was only the insulation firebricks (outer part of the boilers) that got damaged/failed, only they were changed with asbestos lining. There was never any need for a brand new boilers, besides if that was the case than ship repairing would had taken more time.

The problem was that Russians were used to asbestos but not firebricks which was the cause for the failure.

 

[Sergi]

Finally Mods do something
I got warrning for tagging the Mods

 

[djsjs]

finished? very fast speed. what is the schedule of next sea trial?

 

[Sergi]

finished? very fast speed. what is the schedule of next sea trial?

wasn't that much damage as some of your comrades were saying

No schedule officially. Most likely in May like last year.

 

[anant_s]

Dam picture look like Chiken roll
Boiler wasn't the only thing. Few equipments bought by IN from other suppliers failed too.
So replacement and repair work need time. Now evenif it's done due to the freezing of water you can't take Vikidi out for trials. So we have to wait for ice to melt. After that "Vikidi" will complete the reaming sea trails. And after the complete assessment from RuN it will be handled over to IN.
I think trials will begine in May as like last year and will complete in July-Aug. Russians are just being cautious to give us Nov/Dec if something go wrong again. If not there are high chances we getting Vikidi in Aug/Sept

Chicken Rolls
This is a pretty itching stuff (have first hand experience) so you won't want any part of body to come in contact with this material.

Agree Sir, they are not letting out the details but there certainly are more components that failed along with thermal insulation and the delay is cumulative effect.

VIKIDI, love the name