Nautical Structures' Product Testing
Equipment testing is a vital element of the Nautical Structures production process. It is our best opportunity to ensure that the standards of quality and workmanship we set for our products are met, through an intensive testing protocol. Over the years Nautical Structures has invested in multiple testing fixtures. If you browse this site you may notice some of the older fixtures, now replaced with our state-of-the-art inclination testing fixture. This testing fixture is specific for testing all of our deck crane systems. Any crane sold built-to-class spends up to a week on this testing fixture, and may be tested under survey from the Flag State Authority or by a surveyor from a Classification Society. Cranes are installed and operated through their entire range of motion. Once the crane has been function-tested, it is load tested. A live load equalling 110% of the rated design load capacity is attached to the hoisting cable. Nautical Structures technicians may select from a series of certified test weights to achieve the necessary test load. The crane is then loaded with the test load and again functioned through its entire range of motion. A crane being certified to the MCA-LY2 Code will then be tilted on the inclination table 5.0-degrees, and again be operated through the entire range of motion. A crane being built and certified to the IMO/LSA Rules for SOLAS will be tilted on the inclination table 22.5-degrees; which emulates the required 20-degree list / 10-degree trim requirement. In this extreme position the crane again is operated through its entire range of motion, and must operate under complete control as it is rotated up against the list, then down with the list. This is a true test of the rotation braking system.
Note: In 2010 Nautical Structures will be one of the first equipment manufacturers that will comply with the amended LSA Code 6.1.1.4 requiring that all SOLAS classed cranes be static load tested at 220% of the designed rated load while inclined at 20-degree list / 10-degree trim.
Additional testing is performed including winch load-holding tests, hoisting speed testing, load-release free-fall testing and other required tests the surveyor may want to observe. After the dynamic load testing (live load), the crane is rotated over the static test beam, where the boom is strapped to a specialized pull-cable. With the boom fully extended to its maximum reach, a 220% load is pulled against the crane. This load is maintained for a period of time before being released. The crane is inspected for any deformation to the structure. Throughout the load testing a series of hydraulic gages are plumbed into the equipment to monitor the pressure values for each function during test. This ensures that the equipment is performing at designed efficiency. Once the equipment has completed the load testing, it is cleaned and inspected. Final QA checks are made, and any paint repair is performed prior to packaging.
Additional test fixtures have been developed to test the SL-series overhead beam crane, davit system and passerelle. The SL-series overhead beam crane undergoes hoist and traverse testing with a dynamic (live) load. davit systems undergo both dynamic and static testing very similar to the deck crane systems. Inclination testing is not a test element in the davit test protocols.
All Nautical Structures passerelles and side accommodation stairways are fully assembled and tested. The test fixture allows the equipment to be fully functioned in all positions. Load testing is performed, with deflection data recorded. The hand rails are hand-fit and adjusted. LED lighting installed along with the natural wood teak decking. Final details are checked, call bell wiring and intercom circuits tested and the system cleaned prior to packaging.
No matter the type of product delivered, Nautical Structures takes pride in the quality standards of all of our products. After the initial design work, development with the shipyard or naval architect, in-house engineering, manufacturing and assembly; the testing procedure is the final assurance that the equipment supplied will meet or exceed all expectations. It ensures that the equipment installed on board your yacht or ship will operate reliably and safely.
