CASE STUDY

Anti-magnetic system for Minesweeper

Challenge

For this project, the teams had to combine specialist materials with a trusted product to create the ultimate solution.

Italian shipyard, Intermarine approached the Bowmaster and Manson Anchor teams for help designing and building an anchoring deployment solution for three new minesweepers that they were building for the Finnish Navy.

Due to the specific shape of the minesweepers bow, and mechanics of the deployment system, Manson Ray Anchors were the obvious anchoring solution. However, due to the nature of the vessel operations, material with a low magnetic permeability had to be used, and the team had to use a special welding consumables during the build.

The Manson Anchor team had previously made antimagnetic anchors but had not made the Manson Ray Anchor in an antimagnetic material before. The biggest challenge of this project was the material selection and measuring the levels of magnetic permeability in μ.

Solution

The material selection in this project was hugely important. The stainless-steel plates had to have a low permeability reading. This particular type of steel is not magnetic, nor can it be magnetised. The Bowmaster Technical Sales Director worked closely with the supplier to personally ensure the magnetic permeability of each plate was less than 2μ, he did this by using an in-house testing facility.

The plates that had been tested and approved were then used to cut parts and a special weld consumable was used to complete the build of the anchors. The final product was meticulously measured to ensure it was all compliant and met all client specifications.

All three vessels are now fitted with this anchoring solution.

Since completion, Bowmaster and Manson Anchors have designed and fabricated many more antimagnetic projects.

QUALITY APPROVALS AND ACCREDITATIONS