## Abnormal bearing noise rectified on a MacGregor GLB3026-2/2426gr deck crane
Qualships Australia completed a jib bearing renewal on a MacGregor GLB3026-2/2426gr deck crane at the Port of Portland, Australia, in August 2026. The crane was reported with abnormal bearing noise in operation. Both port and starboard jib foot bearing assemblies were inspected, and rectification was carried out afloat, without shipyard support.
## Scope of work
1. *Port side* — bearing housing opened and inspected. The existing bearing and pin were removed and renewed with maker-supplied spares.
2. *Starboard side* — the pin was seized to the bearing and could not be drawn. The pin was cut out under controlled conditions, the seized bearing renewed, and a serviceable pin fitted.
3. *Pin fitting* — the new pin was chilled in dry ice to achieve the required interface clearance before installation, and the port-side pin was polished prior to fitting.
4. *Tooling* — purpose-built pull-in jacks and pushing tools were fabricated on site for pin extraction and insertion from inside and outside the crane housing.
5. *Reassembly* — inner bolts and bearing housing fasteners tightened to the maker-specified torque values using a calibrated electronic torque wrench.
6. *Safety* — the crane boom was secured with independent lashings and a temporary holding eye welded and tested as an additional precaution before dismantling.
7. *Testing* — the crane was function-tested and tried out on completion. No abnormal noise or vibration was recorded.
## Parts renewed
- Jib foot bearings
- Pin
- O-rings
- Viton seal rings
## Why this job matters
Jib foot bearing wear is one of the most common causes of noise, play, and eventual pin seizure on MacGregor GLB series deck cranes. Left unaddressed, a seized pin turns a bearing renewal into a cutting and machining job with far greater downtime and a real risk of the crane being taken out of service by class or Port State Control. Early attention to bearing noise, combined with correct torque control on reassembly, keeps the crane certified and working.
## Recommendation issued to the vessel
Bearing housing bolts to be renewed at the next overhaul interval.
## Qualships crane capability
Qualships Australia is a DNV and Lloyd's Register approved marine engineering, welding, fabrication, and ship repair company based in Sydney, servicing vessels across all Australian ports.
- Deck crane and provision crane overhaul, bearing and pin renewal
- Slew bearing, luffing, and hoisting system repair
- Seized pin removal, in-situ machining, and custom tool fabrication
- Crane wire rope renewal and twisting investigations
- Crane load testing and brake rendering tests
- Hydraulic system fault diagnosis and repair
- Class-approved welding and structural repair
- 24/7 attendance at Australian ports
*Need a crane attended in an Australian port?*
Qualships Australia — Unit 24, 33 Elizabeth Street, Wetherill Park NSW 2164
Ph: +61 426 785 085 | +61 426 476 533
info@qualships.com | www.qualships.com