After these preparations, the first thing the team did was to remove the rope guard from the stern tube assembly. This was followed by establishing one of the Hydrex flexible mobdocks around the stern tube seal to create a dry working area. By using the flexible mobdock technique, the divers can replace the seals as if they were working in the dry, this being absolutely necessary as seal replacements simply can not be done in a wet environment.

With the flexible mobdock in place, all the required equipment was brought inside the habitat. Lights were installed and a video/audio connection was established between the mobdock and the monitoring station onshore.

The actual repair started with the removal of the first seal ring. At that point the Hydrex divers started bonding and equipping new seals according to the approved procedure developed over several years. When the replacements where complete, testing showed that the oil leak had been repaired effectively. The mobdock was then removed together with all the equipment and the rope guard was reinstalled around the seal assembly.

Replacing stern tube seals underwater is a complex task and now an established, if new, technology. The team leader commented after the replacement was complete, 'The job went very smoothly under the circumstances because our divers are trained to perform quickly and efficiently and because they have years of experience. Seal replacements have become a common task for us now and with the use of the mobdock technique they can be performed in-situ, while normal commercial operations continue. What is remarkable is that it is only a few years ago this operation was considered impossible.'