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Why Every Vessel Needs an Effective MGPS Solution
To ship operators, maintaining a vessel’s integrity isn’t just about hull and machinery - it also includes the seawater that keeps its systems running. Scaling and Bio-fouling – the natural build-up of marine life such as mussels, barnacles, algae inside seawater pipelines - are among the biggest threats to efficiency, safety and maintenance in sea water injection systems. An Efficient Marine Growth Prevention System (MGPS) Nowadays, MGPS is not any additional equipment but a necessary component of a contemporary vessel. At Sealong Marine Engineering Group (SME), we understand how important this technology is for a vessel life and the supporting marine services we offer.
Preventing Blockages and Protecting Critical Systems
A MGPS is installed to control the growth of marine fouling organisms, including algae, plants, mussels etc. within ship seawater cooling system and other piping systems on board vessels. Without a drain such as this, the pipelines will become blocked or very restricted. This biofouling also functions as an insulator, thereby severely compromising the heat transfer efficacy of coolers and condensers. The effects are immediate and serious: main and auxiliary engines overheat, refrigeration capacity diminishes and vital equipment such as firefighting pumps may fail. A functional MGPS system protects these vital systems, allowing vessels to continue operating and eliminating expensive unscheduled downtime.
Reducing Maintenance Costs and Enhancing Longevity
Biofouling is also a powerful economic driver. Severely soiled pipes and heat exchangers must be cleaned intensively and at regular intervals using chemical, high-pressure water jetting or mechanical scraped cleaning. This maintenance is expensive and time consuming and can wear components out even faster, rendering premature failure. By never allowing marine growth to get a foothold, MGPS effectively minimizes the need for this maintenance. Cleaner systems equates to more money in your pocket, prolongs damage on piping and attached equipment; and adds value to the vessel long term.
A Key Component of Holistic Vessel Management
The installation, servicing and refitting of an MGPS fits perfectly within our total marine engineering service provision here at SME Group. Our team of 100 in-house technical experts know how to incorporate these into a ship’s system and they will be specified correctly, calibrated properly, performing as expected. Additionally, our worldwide service network together with our 5,000 sqm workshop ensures that we can service these systems across the globe by supplying spare parts and performing repairs conducted by skilled specialists. “The integrated, dependable MGPS provides the proactive added value in a planned vessel retrofit and maintenance schedule to make sure things stay that way.
In short, an efficient MGPS is essential investment for any marine vessel. It is an essential protection from the costly production interruptions, high maintenance costs and equipment damages. Vessel operators with foresight can adjust this risk in their favor, optimizing the efficiency and longevity of their assets. SME Group is dedicated to the support of such vital protection systems being utilized within the maritime industry through our technical services and worldwide support.