After-Sales Service System for Exported Engineering Vessels | Yanyang Marine

After-Sales Services of Exported Engineering Vessels

→ Dredger, Split Hopper Barge, Flating Crane, Pile Driving Barge , etc..

I. Industry Characteristics of Engineering Vessels and Core Positioning of After-Sales Service

Engineering vessels such as dredgers, Split Hopper Barge, pile driving vessels and floating cranes are special equipments with high value and high technological content, and their operating environments are more complex and harsh than those of ordinary merchant ships.

The after-sales service system for such exported engineering vessels is far more complex and important than that for ordinary merchant ships. The quality of after-sales service is directly related to the shipowner’s engineering construction progress, project implementation efficiency and overall return on investment, which is a core link of the engineering vessel export business.

Meanwhile, engineering vessels have strong operational relevance. Any problems caused by improper crew operation or vessel equipment failure during use will result in far greater direct economic losses and indirect construction delay losses than ordinary merchant ships, so complete and efficient after-sales support is essential.

Combining common industry and international practices, and referring to the construction models of major domestic engineering companies, the after-sales service for exported engineering vessels covers key nodes in the whole process. This document comprehensively sorts out the core points of after-sales service starting from the signing of the contract and payment of the deposit.

II. Pre-service Training after Contract Signing

Engineering vessels are significantly different from ordinary merchant ships in characteristics. Chinese-made engineering vessels may have differences from foreign similar vessels in operation interfaces, supporting software systems, core equipment parameters and operating characteristics. Therefore, the buyer shall arrange crew and engineering technicians to come to China for practical learning in advance to quickly master the core performance and operation specifications of the vessels.

This stage is short-term intensive training, and the core content covers three major modules: standardized operation procedures of all vessel equipment, emergency handling plans for sudden failures, and routine maintenance specifications. After systematic training, qualified crew can quickly master practical essentials, lay a foundation for subsequent vessel delivery and operation, and avoid subsequent operational risks caused by unfamiliar operation.

▲FREE OF CHARGE

III. Vessel Delivery and Transportation Support Services

In accordance with international common rules, the engineering vessel delivery link is not part of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Vessel sales and vessel transportation are two independent business sectors. The transaction terms between both parties generally adopt domestic port handover terms such as EXW,FOB and FCA, the vessel property right transfer procedures are completed at domestic ports.

Most cutter suction dredgers (CSD), pile driving vessels and floating cranes in the industry are non-self-propelled vessels, and cross-regional transportation is a key link in the export process. We can provide all-round vessel transportation support services for foreign buyers, including:

Vessel Mobilization and Insurance Services:

★Handling of relevant matters for towage transportation, heavy lift transportation and semi-submersible barge transportation of non-self-propelled vessels, with full-range insurance provided simultaneously;
★Formalities Handling for Self-propelled Vessels: Handling of navigation permits and flag registration;
★Supporting Personnel and Material Services: Crew deployment, voyage material preparation and navigation security services.

IV. Core After-Sales Service Modules (Six Major Parts)

(1) On-site Commissioning and Delivery Support

This link officially starts when the vessel arrives at the buyer’s destination port. It can be omitted if the exported vessel is an in-service vessel that can be directly put into construction, with qualified vessel conditions and no need for additional commissioning.

The core service contents are as follows:

▲Port Arrival Vessel Reception Service: Arrange a professional technical service team to travel with the vessel or arrive at the destination port in advance, and fully assist the buyer in completing the whole process of vessel unloading, towage and mooring to ensure the vessel is safely berthed at the designated location.
(Subject to customer demand)
▲On-site Vessel Commissioning: Carry out special tests in the actual operation waters of the vessel, and complete load tests and full-system linkage tests one by one for the dredging system (cutter head, grab bucket) of dredgers, pile driving system (hydraulic hammer, pile frame) of pile driving vessels, and lifting system (crane boom) of floating cranes, to verify the operational stability and operation performance of the equipment.
(Subject to customer demand)
▲On-site Practical Training: Provide one-on-one hands-on practical training for the shipowner’s local crew and operators, covering equipment operation, emergency handling and routine maintenance. If this part of training has been completed in China before export, it will not be repeated on site.
(Subject to customer demand)
▲On-site Construction and Training Service: During the initial stage of the vessel's formal operation, Chinese crew will be arranged to work on board (standard cycle: 6-12 months, adjustable according to demand)(by seperated contract).They will simultaneously provide advanced training to local crew, monitor the construction status throughout the process, and promptly resolve on-site issues such as vessel equipment failures and construction technology adaptation.

★Early since 2015, Yanyang Marine has successively dispatched professional crews to Aktau (Kazakhstan), the Maldives, the Philippines, and other regions to provide construction guidance and crew training services, possessing extensive experience in overseas practical operations and on-site training.

(2) Technical Support and Remote Diagnosis

Engineering vessels are highly automated and hydraulically operated. We provide round-the-clock instant response technical support for various technical problems during operation and answer operation inquiries throughout the process.

Vessel failures are mainly divided into two categories: equipment inherent failures and failures caused by improper operation. Upon receiving failure feedback, Yanyang Marine will cooperate with equipment original manufacturers and cooperative shipyards at the first time to quickly formulate targeted solutions; for conventional simple failures, guide on-board personnel to complete failure troubleshooting and equipment reset through video connection; for complex and difficult failures, immediately coordinate manufacturer engineers to rush to the site for handling.

If our on-board personnel are present when the failure occurs, on-site handling can be carried out at the first time to minimize the failure downtime to the greatest extent.

(3) Spare Parts Supply and Logistics Management

Engineering vessels are production-oriented equipment. Once shut down, huge rental and construction delay losses will be incurred. Therefore, the response speed of spare parts supply directly affects the shipowner’s economic benefits, and spare parts support is the core focus of vessel full-life-cycle service.

Initial Random Spare Parts: When delivering the vessel, provide consumable parts and core key spare parts in accordance with the recommended list simultaneously, covering common parts such as hydraulic seals, filter elements, cutter teeth, steel wire ropes, etc., to meet the emergency needs of initial operation.

Emergency Spare Parts Airlift: For failures of key core components such as main engines and core hydraulic valve manifolds, activate the emergency spare parts supply process, deliver spare parts to the customer’s designated port in a short time, and quickly restore vessel operation.

Recommendation for Long-term Spare Parts:Considering the lead times for various spare parts and international shipping, Yanyang Marine typically advises clients to stock long-term consumable spares. We can provide a configuration list for a 2-3 year supply. This is a critical factor in ensuring timely replacement and maintenance during vessel operations, thereby preventing prolonged downtime.

(4) On-site Repair and Overhaul Services

For complex failures that cannot be solved through remote guidance, immediately dispatch professional engineers to the site or arrange the vessel to enter the shipyard for repair. The core service contents are:

Emergency Offshore Troubleshooting: Arrange qualified mechanical, electrical and hydraulic engineers to board the vessel and carry out emergency repairs at the vessel anchorage or construction site to quickly restore the vessel’s operation capacity. As early as 2008, Yanyang Marine provided such services for an Indian buyer’s 3500m³ TSHD dredger, completed the repair of the hydraulic system failure within one week, and helped the vessel resume production smoothly.

Scheduled Inspection Service: According to the buyer’s demand, sign a separate special contract to dispatch personnel to conduct a comprehensive equipment inspection on the vessel every six months or one year, evaluate the wear and aging of each component, and issue a professional maintenance proposal.

Special Overhaul Service: Sign a separate contract according to the buyer’s demand to carry out special repair or replacement for core operation components such as drag heads and cutter heads of dredgers, hydraulic hammers of pile driving vessels, and hook pulley blocks of floating cranes.

Docking Repair Support Service: Sign a separate contract according to the buyer’s demand. When the vessel enters the dry dock for overhaul, provide professional technical scheme support, full-process supervision service, and guidance for the replacement of core key components.

(5) Software Upgrade and Retrofitting Services

The supporting control system of engineering vessels needs continuous optimization and upgrading to adapt to the latest operation demands and industry standards.

Core services include:

▲Control Software Upgrade:
Provide updates of core control software such as dredging control system, dynamic positioning system (DP), crane load management system, optimize operation algorithms, and improve core operation performance such as vessel dredging accuracy and pile driving efficiency.
▲Regulatory Compliance Retrofitting:
If international maritime regulations (such as Tier III emission regulations) or local environmental standards are updated and revised, provide targeted technical retrofitting schemes for shipowners, including the installation of exhaust gas treatment devices, noise control retrofitting, etc., to ensure the vessel meets compliant operation requirements.
▲Equipment Performance Upgrade: Carry out small-scale optimization and retrofitting of existing equipment according to the shipowner’s actual operation feedback to improve equipment durability and overall operation efficiency.

(6) Warranty Period Management

International second-hand vessel transactions follow the universal "as is where is" (delivery in current condition) rule, and there is no warranty commitment for second-hand vessel transactions, which is a common standard in the international industry.

For newly built engineering vessels, the warranty scope and period are strictly defined: clearly define the hull structure, main engine, auxiliary engine, and special operation equipment (cutter head, hydraulic hammer, etc.) as separate warranty categories; the conventional warranty period is 12 months after equipment manufacture or vessel delivery, or after the equipment reaches the agreed operating hours, and the original equipment manufacturer shall be fully responsible for the warranty liability.

V. Summary of After-Sales Service

For production-oriented engineering vessels such as dredgers, pile driving vessels and floating cranes, the core of after-sales service is not simply "vessel repair", but focusing on ensuring the continuous and efficient construction of the vessel and comprehensively reducing the shipowner’s downtime risk.

The core focuses of the entire after-sales system are: first, ensure that operators use vessel equipment proficiently and standardly to reduce the failure rate from the source; second, establish a rapid failure response and repair mechanism to ensure that equipment failures are handled and repaired at the first time, minimize downtime to the greatest extent, safeguard the shipowner’s construction progress and investment income, and achieve full-cycle and all-round after-sales support.