Marine

Replacement heat exchangers for the RSV Nuyina, Australia’s new Antarctic Research Vessel.

When you are sailing the treacherous seas around the Antarctic, or have work to do when you get there, the last thing you want is for any of your ship’s vital heat exchangers to fail.

For many years Fluid Dynamics was entrusted with the service, refurbishment and repair of the heat exchangers on board the RSV Aurora Australis, the original ice breaker which had faithfully served Australia’s Antarctic Program since 1989.

Now out of service, the Aurora Australis has been replaced by the incredible purpose-built RSV Nuyina, the single biggest investment in the history of Australia’s Antarctic Program.

Fluid Dynamics was honoured to recently be given the job of refurbishing heat exchangers on the Nuyina with an urgent request for assistance as summed up by Nuyina’s Operations Manager when he wrote:

"Australia's new $529M Research Supply Vessel the RSV Nuyina required the urgent repair of two oil coolers housed on the vessel’s 55 tonne Port Cargo Crane. Due to unavailability of new units and because of the tight timeframe for the vessel to sail on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic, Fluid Dynamics was contacted to perform repairs which, as it turns out, were not achievable due the number of holes identified in these coolers. As such, Fluid Dynamics worked tirelessly to renew the core of these units and to ensure they were correctly anodised (something that may have been lacking from the previous coolers) and on their way to the Nuyina in time to commence her cargo operations for the intended voyage.

The reactiveness of Fluid Dynamics was excellent and is in line with its previous support & service to Antarctic operating vessels noting the work Fluid Dynamics has performed onboard the vessel Aurora Australis which the Nuyina now replaces”.

Fluid Dynamics has now been requested to audit the Nuyina’s entire portfolio of heat exchangers when the ship returns to Hobart and to continue the vital ongoing task of caring for the ship’s heat exchangers to ensure not only the safety and viability of the Nuyina, its crew and passengers but the entire Australian Antarctic Program.

Fluid Dynamics genuinely cares about its clients and their heat exchangers.  If you need assistance with any heat exchangers please contact one of our friendly and expert staff.