Our expertise is all aboard article from our Perspective Volume 5, Quarter 4.
MacDonald-Miller has been working on sheet metal and controls projects on ships for years, but for the first time we moved into the specialized market of Navy air conditioning and refrigeration work. The first stop was VIGOR Shipyard in Portland, Oregon, to get air conditioning and refrigeration plants up to 100% working order on the USS Frank Cable after many years of no maintenance, as the ship was on its way to retirement.
The biggest challenge on USS Frank Cable was to get it done in just 5 months – as ships leave port with or without work being completed! With the short timeline in mind, there were tons of parts ordered and subcontracts signed without change order PO#’s, resulting in many sleepless nights!
Scope of work:
200- Ton Centrifugal A/C Plants
- Replacement of 1,100 copper nickel tubes in condenser bundles
- Acid cleaning, pressure washing and dehydrating inside of three evaporators and condensers
- Rebuilding of two 200-ton centrifugal compressors
- Rebuilding of two 400 hpelectric motors
- Rebuilding of seawater regulating valves & actuators
- Welding on vessels where acid found corrosion
- Cleaning of 2600# of R-236FA refrigerant to like-new state
Refrigeration Freezers & Coolers
- Perform full groom of all refrigeration equipment
- Repair all leaks
- Replace all 404A refrigerant and oil
Our Largest Sheet Metal job on a ship to date!
- 5 vaneaxial fans
- 23 steam coils
- 12 chilled water coils
- One complete new-air supply system to the engine room
- Duct replacement in approximately 35 various fan room and compartments
- Approximately 40,000 lbs of galvanized and stainless-steel duct work
- Replacement of approximately 750 duct access doors
- Crew of 8 for most of the duration
