Guarding the Flame

SPRAY FOAM MAGAZINE – The modern-day Olympic torches are built to withstand any weather conditions, but what about the vessel that helps transport the torch to its destination? The 2024 Olympic flame was lit on April 16th in Athens marking the start of its 1,242-mile journey from the port of Piraeus in Greece to its arrival in Marseille, France on May 8th. Following tradition, the flame was under constant supervision to ensure it remained lit. It was also imperative that the vessel carrying the torch was in peak condition.

The Olympic Games were revived in Greece in 1896, the same year that the ship, Belem, was also constructed. The Belem is thought to be Europe’s oldest three-masted barque and initially operated as a cargo ship, transporting sugar from the West Indies, cocoa, and coffee from Brazil and French Guiana to Nantes, France. In 1914, she was made into a luxury sailing vessel.

Fast forward a century from her maiden voyage, the Belem was converted into a sail training ship and for the first time in history, the torch and the Belem, were brought together in this historic journey of the Olympic torch.

Before this historic ship could undertake the 12-day voyage, it required some updates. A corroded propeller shaft needed urgent attention as it had suffered severe damage from corrosion and pitting. In 2023, a company called Belzona, a global designer and manufacturer of repair composite materials and industrial protective coatings, was involved in its restoration.

Belzona was founded in 1952 by Danish entrepreneur Jorgen Svendsen (1921-1999). The company, established in Elland, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, originally specialized in the flame spraying of steel with zinc to provide corrosion protection. To this day they have continued to advance market-driven solutions to meet the consistent demand of industry and commerce. Belzona now has offices in Europe, North America, and Asia, with a global distribution network of over 140 distributors in more than 120 countries.

As a key component in the ship, the propeller shaft needs proper maintenance. It helps transmit rotational power and torque to the propeller, allowing the ship to move smoothly and efficiently. The customer aimed to preserve the original shaft due to the Belem’s historical significance and thus wanted the damaged areas reconstructed and protected from future corrosion caused by the seawater.

As part of a comprehensive restoration, the repair was carried out while the Belem was in dry dock in the Saint-Nazaire Shipyards. The crew first grit-blasted and salt-washed the surface of the propeller shaft. To renovate it back to its original profile, they reconstructed it with Belzona 1111 (Super Metal). 

This repair composite is used for metal repair and resurfacing. It is a two-part repair composite based on a solvent-free epoxy resin reinforced with silicon steel alloy. According to Belzona, this repair material does not corrode and resists a wide range of chemicals. To complete the restoration, they then applied two coats of Belzona 5821 to help protect the shaft from corrosion under immersion.

Given the careful planning and thought that went into the torch and its journey, having the Belem in ship-shape helped the journey run smoothly. Applying these specific products to the propeller shaft helped avoid a costly replacement and safeguard the 127-year-old shaft, demonstrating that preserving a piece of maritime history with superior products truly illuminates a job well done.  

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