Burckhardt Compression Expands At-Sea Repair Services to Minimize Vessel Downtime
As global maritime operations become more demanding, shipowners and operators are under growing pressure to control costs, maintain vessel availability and avoid unnecessary disruptions. For LNG carriers in particular, equipment reliability is critical, as compressor issues can affect vessel performance and create significant scheduling and financial challenges.
Burckhardt Compression (US) Inc. is addressing these challenges by expanding its marine service capabilities to provide specialized technical support while vessels remain in transit. Through its network of field service representatives (FSRs), supported by onshore engineers and technical specialists, the company is helping marine operators complete critical compressor repairs without requiring vessels to spend extended periods in port.
Two recent compressor cylinder liner repair projects demonstrate the value of this approach. In both cases, Burckhardt Compression’s service teams boarded LNG tankers before their transatlantic voyages and completed complex repair work while the vessels were underway. The successful projects allowed the vessels to reach their destinations without additional repair-related delays and return to full service immediately after disembarkation.
Repair expertise delivered at sea
Traditional marine equipment repairs can require vessels to remain in port for extended periods, depending on the complexity of the work and availability of technicians, replacement parts and specialized equipment. For commercial vessels operating on tightly planned schedules, such delays can result in additional operating costs and disruptions throughout the wider supply chain.Burckhardt Compression’s in-transit service model provides an alternative. By placing qualified FSRs onboard while a vessel is already underway, essential repair activities can be completed during the voyage rather than waiting for the next suitable port call.
The company’s approach combines onboard technical expertise with support from its shore-based engineering and logistics teams. This coordination allows FSRs to manage complicated repair work while maintaining communication with specialists onshore.The model was recently demonstrated on an LNG tanker that departed from Dunkirk, France. On June 19, Burckhardt Compression FSRs boarded the vessel to perform a critical repair involving the fourth- and fifth-stage compressor cylinder liners.
Rather than waiting for the vessel to reach a port where the work could be scheduled, the service team carried out the repair during the Atlantic crossing. The FSRs worked closely with Burckhardt Compression’s technical support personnel onshore throughout the project.By completing the repair while the tanker was in transit, the team eliminated the need for a dedicated repair stop. When the FSRs disembarked at the Port of Houston on July 16, the compressor unit was ready to return to full service immediately.For the operator, the result was a significant reduction in potential downtime and disruption. The vessel could continue following its planned operating schedule instead of remaining idle while waiting for a repair to be completed.
A second successful LNG tanker repair
Burckhardt Compression subsequently demonstrated the same service model on another LNG tanker.In this case, an FSR team boarded the vessel in Huelva, Spain, on August 23. The assignment involved repairing a compressor cylinder liner, with the work again scheduled to take place entirely while the vessel was underway.The team completed the necessary repair activities during the voyage, avoiding the need for the vessel to remain in port for the work. The FSRs eventually disembarked on the U.S. Gulf Coast on September 7.
As with the earlier project, the vessel was able to return to service immediately after the technicians completed their assignment.The two projects illustrate how in-transit repairs can provide a practical solution for marine operators facing increasingly demanding schedules. Rather than treating repair work as an event that necessarily requires a port stay, specialized service teams can bring the necessary expertise directly to the vessel.This can be particularly valuable for LNG carriers, where compressor systems play an important role in vessel operations and reliability. Minimizing equipment downtime can help operators maintain schedules while reducing the financial consequences associated with unexpected delays.
Coordinated global service capabilities
The success of in-transit repairs depends on more than having technicians onboard. Complex marine projects require detailed planning, appropriate parts and equipment, technical expertise and continuous coordination between personnel at sea and teams onshore.Burckhardt Compression has developed a global field service network designed to support customers in demanding marine and offshore environments. Many of the company’s FSRs are certified for marine deployment, enabling them to work directly aboard vessels and respond to specialized equipment requirements.
These field service representatives are backed by in-house engineers and logistics specialists who provide additional technical and operational support from shore.This structure allows Burckhardt Compression to provide assistance across a wide range of requirements, including commissioning, repairs, troubleshooting and crew training. The combination of onboard specialists and centralized technical resources is designed to give customers access to support wherever their vessels are operating.For marine operators, this global reach can be especially important because vessels frequently move between regions and may encounter equipment issues far from their home ports or regular maintenance facilities.
Reducing the impact of port downtime
Port time is an important consideration for commercial shipping companies. Vessels are often operated according to tightly coordinated schedules involving cargo loading and unloading, port slots, crew arrangements, fuel planning and onward voyages.An unexpected mechanical issue that requires a vessel to remain in port can therefore have consequences beyond the immediate repair.
By carrying out repairs during transit, Burckhardt Compression’s service teams can help operators separate maintenance activities from port operations. Instead of using valuable port time for compressor repairs, the work can be completed while the vessel is already traveling between destinations.This approach can be particularly useful when a repair does not require the vessel to stop and when qualified technicians can safely access and service the equipment onboard.
The two recent LNG tanker projects demonstrate this potential. In each case, the service teams boarded before the transatlantic journey, completed their work during the voyage and disembarked when the vessels reached their destinations.The result was a repair process that fit into the vessel’s existing operating schedule rather than creating a separate period of downtime.
Supporting LNG compression operations
LNG transportation depends on specialized equipment and highly reliable shipboard systems. Compressor systems must operate effectively to support vessel operations, making maintenance and repair capabilities an important consideration for shipowners and operators.Burckhardt Compression has established its marine services offering around this need, providing specialized expertise to customers operating LNG carriers and other vessels requiring compressor support.
The company’s ability to deploy FSRs internationally means customers can access technical assistance without necessarily bringing vessels to a specific service facility.This can provide greater flexibility when unexpected repairs arise or when planned maintenance must be completed within a narrow operating window.The recent projects also highlight the importance of collaboration between shipboard personnel and technical teams onshore. While FSRs performed the physical work onboard, they were supported by Burckhardt Compression’s wider technical organization, helping ensure that the repair process was completed efficiently.
Expertise backed by a worldwide network
Burckhardt Compression’s marine service capabilities are supported by a broader international organization. Its FSR network is designed to provide customers with access to technical expertise across different regions and operating environments.The company says its field service teams can support customers with a range of activities, from initial commissioning and equipment repairs to troubleshooting and crew training.
This broad service offering allows the relationship with customers to extend beyond individual repair projects. By providing technical assistance throughout the operational life of compressor equipment, Burckhardt Compression can support operators as they work to maintain reliability and performance.The company’s combination of marine-certified personnel, engineering resources and logistics support is particularly relevant to vessels operating internationally. Shipping companies may need assistance far from their usual maintenance locations, making rapid access to qualified personnel an important part of maintaining vessel availability.
Collaboration with marine customers
For Burckhardt Compression, the value of its marine service offering is centered on collaboration with customers and understanding the operational pressures facing shipowners and operators.Alvaro Grande, Head of Services at Burckhardt Compression US, emphasized this collaborative approach, highlighting the company’s intention to bring its global service experience to customers in the U.S. marine market.
The company’s focus is not simply on completing individual repairs but on finding service solutions that fit the operating requirements of its customers.In-transit repairs are an example of that philosophy. Instead of requiring operators to adapt their schedules around a maintenance event, the service is designed to work within the vessel’s existing voyage whenever conditions allow.
Improving efficiency through proactive service
The two recent projects demonstrate how marine maintenance strategies can evolve as shipping operators seek greater efficiency.Completing compressor repairs during a voyage can help reduce the operational impact of maintenance and potentially avoid the costs associated with additional port stays. It can also give operators greater flexibility when planning vessel schedules.
For LNG carriers operating on international routes, this flexibility can be especially valuable. A vessel may already have a carefully planned sequence of ports and cargo operations, leaving limited opportunities for unexpected maintenance.A capable field service team that can work onboard during transit provides another option for addressing equipment problems without automatically interrupting the voyage.
Delivering reliable support where customers need it
Burckhardt Compression’s recent LNG tanker projects highlight the growing importance of flexible marine maintenance services. By combining onboard FSR expertise with a global network of engineers and logistics specialists, the company is able to address critical compressor repairs without necessarily requiring vessels to spend additional time in port.The Dunkirk-to-Houston project and the Huelva-to-U.S. Gulf Coast project both demonstrate how this approach can work in practice. In each case, technicians boarded the vessel before the voyage, completed compressor cylinder liner repairs while underway and disembarked after reaching the destination, allowing the vessel to return to service immediately.
For marine operators, the benefits extend beyond the repair itself. Avoiding unnecessary downtime can help protect schedules, reduce operational disruption and improve overall efficiency.As global shipping continues to face pressure from rising costs, tighter schedules and increasingly complex operating requirements, service models that combine technical expertise with operational flexibility are likely to become increasingly valuable.Burckhardt Compression’s expanding marine services capabilities demonstrate how specialized in-transit support can help LNG operators keep vessels moving while maintaining the performance and reliability of critical compressor equipment. Through its global FSR network and coordinated onshore technical support, the company continues to provide marine customers with repair and maintenance expertise designed around the realities of modern shipping operations.
About Burckhardt Compression
Burckhardt Compression delivers leading compression solutions that enable a sustainable energy future and support the long-term success of its customers. The Group’s business is driven by three global megatrends: a growing global population, increasing demand for energy security, and the ongoing energy transition. With its highly engineered reciprocating compressor systems and services, Burckhardt Compression plays a vital role across applications such as hydrogen, gas infrastructure, chemical processing, and industrial gases.
Through its brands Burckhardt Compression, PROGNOST, SAMR Métal Rouge, Shenyang Yuanda Compressor, and Fornovo Gas, the Group offers a comprehensive portfolio of reciprocating compressor technologies, digital monitoring solutions, and lifecycle services.
Founded in 1844, Burckhardt Compression has continuously evolved alongside its markets, from early engineering innovations to today’s advanced compressor solutions. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, the company operates globally with 35 subsidiaries, as well as three manufacturing and five assembly sites.