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SERVICE MAGAZINE

Lifting Equipment p23Port & Quayside Facilities p16 Hazardous Area Supplement p34 Fasteners, Bolts & Tensioners p31Subsea Expo Exhibitor Profiles p41 Subsea Equipment & Underwater Services p18

January 2015 Issue

Pg 8 Pg 23 Pg 19

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A New Year a new look Welcome to the January issue of Subsea & Offshore Service Magazine, the journal for the subsea, offshore and renewables markets.

You will have already noticed that we are heading into 2015 with a small redesign to Subsea & Offshore Service Magazine - we have tweaked the front cover and many of the features inside are benefitting from new layouts, more in-depth viewpoints and a cleaner, fresher look. In this first issue of 2015 we are covering a huge variety of topics, from Ports & Quayside Facilities to Subsea Equipment & Underwater Services, Fasteners & Bolt Tensioners, Lifting Equipment, Winches & Deck Machinery and Hazardous Area.

On page 16 you will find a short piece on Aberdeen Harbour funding received for environmental impact assessment. Page 22 you can find details of Technips Deep Explorer diving support vessel which is currently being built by Vard.

The Sparrows Group in the Lifting Equipment section, on page 23, and Mike Morrison discusses the developments in tensioner technology, followed on page 24 by Motive Offshores Dave Acton who discusses the importance of certified equipment in the oil and gas industry.

In our new Hazardous Area supplement, starting on page 34, you can read about Paradigms game changing technology, which will change the way oil and gas operators carry out fire deluge safety testing for the first time in 50 years.

If you have any news, reviews or product launches then, please email it to me, editor@sosmagazine.biz for consideration in our future issues. Happy reading David Sullivan - Editor

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Contents

Reftrade UK takes market lead as it expands fleet

New oil & gas app puts training records back in the hands of the offshore workforce

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Expandable bolts save time and money 32Cost effective detection system resists harsh offshore marine environments

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Shift needed to maximize UKCS potential

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New emergency tank repai kits bought by Statoil

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Companies operating in the North Sea require a cultural shift to make the most of its potential, according to a new report from Deloitte, the business advisory firm.

The report, which gauges the oil and gas industrys reaction to Sir Ian Woods Maximizing Recovery Review, calls on the new regulator the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), the government and companies operating in the North Sea to adapt to a new reality in the basin.

Overall, the research found respondents:

Supported a strong new regulator which can demonstrate focus and influence.

Wanted HM Treasury to outline a stable, simple and internationally competitive fiscal regime which reflects the diverse profile of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Thought closer collaboration between companies would help drive efficiency and cut costs related to extraction, while tax incentives and possibly different ownership models could encourage the sharing of infrastructure.

The UKs oil and gas industry is going

through a serious period of transition; its three major stakeholder groups need to change significantly and adapt quickly, says Derek Henderson, senior partner in Deloittes Aberdeen office. There must be more collaboration both between and within the groups, with companies working together to make extraction more economically viable and increased coordination between departments at Whitehall.

The report also found that drilling activity on the UKCS needs to double to more than 90 wells per year over the next two decades to make the most of the estimated US$1.3 trillion worth of oil and gas which potentially remains, based on the successful extraction of the estimated remaining 15 billion recoverable boe and assumes a $90 per barrel oil price.

Only about a third of the known recoverable resources in the UKCS are left. The easy oil days are gone and we need a fiscal regime that is more reflective of the current state of the basin, says Henderson. Companies are looking for a tax system which is simple to navigate, stable over the longer-term, incentivises investment and is competitive

Shift needed to maximize UKCS potential by international standards. Making the right changes could mean billions of pounds of difference to the UKCS, and simultaneously increase the taxable income as more oil and gas is recovered.

Crucial to the changes will be the new regulator with teeth; the OGA, announced following the Wood Review. Businesses emphasised the need for the regulator to have the ability to encourage, incentivise, or enforce new ways of working.

The industry is very supportive of the new regulator and the Wood Review as a whole, says Geoff Gibbons, Deloitte oil and gas consulting partner. However, those leading the OGA must have the powers required to lead companies and the UK government in the right direction and make sure the utmost is done to maximize the resources left in the North Sea. Nevertheless, industry cannot afford to sit and wait for the regulator to drive change. Respondents were quick to point out that many of the measures required have been known for some time and there is strong scepticism that real change will be delivered.

Gibbons went on to say that if the industry can achieve all of the steps outlined by the Wood Review in time, this shift could help make the most of the remaining resource on the UKCS through maximizing volumes, economic extraction and eventually effective decommissioning.

In addition to Deloittes report, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerces (AGCC) released its own report that says for the first time since 2008, more operators and contractors are pessimistic about their UKCS activity than are optimistic. Almost two-thirds of all firms surveyed (62%) believe the governments top priority with regard to the sector should be a revision to the fiscal regime to ensure it encourages exploration and extraction.

Harkand awarded multi-million pound Southern North Sea deal with major operator

Harkand has secured a multi-million pound contract with a leading independent oil and gas operator to commence work across their assets in the Southern North Sea region later this month.

The deal will see Harkand mobilise their dive support vessel, the Harkand Atlantis, to excavate and remove existing spools and install a flexible jumper at an open water, existing subsea well location.

They will also commence engineering work for production tie-back scope at the site of a new subsea well at another location.

Earlier this year, Harkand delivered a successful multi-well fault-finding campaign across the operators subsea assets off Humberside in the Southern North Sea.

Harkand Europe managing director David Kerr said: This contract award builds on the excellent relationship we have developed together. We are committed to supporting this important clients needs and delivering reliable and quality services in all sectors of the North Sea.

Harkand provides offshore vessels, ROVs, diving, survey services, project management and engineering to the oil and gas and renewables industries.

Employing close to 1,000 people at operation bases in Aberdeen and Houston with headquarters in London; Harkand aims at being the leading subsea IRM and light construction contractor globally.

News In Brief....

Entrepreneurial Scotland reveals the wood groups Bob Keiller as a Hall of Fame inductee. Bob Keiller, CEO of Aberdeen-headquartered Wood Group has been named in the Entrepreneurial Scotland Hall of Fame at this years Entrepreneur of the Year ceremony held on Thursday, 27 November by Entrepreneurial Scotland in association with Deloitte.

Established in 2002 to recognise exceptional leadership, the Entrepreneurial Scotland Hall of Fame recognises successful entrepreneurs in Scotland who had made a huge contribution to Scottish business life. Mr Keiller follows esteemed names like Sir Moir Lockhead, Donald Macdonald and Sir Ian Wood who have all received the accolade.

The event on Thursday, which saw Peter Vardy of the Peter Vardy Group named as Entrepreneur of the Year, also saw the official coming together of the Saltire Foundation and the Entrepreneurial Exchange to form Entrepreneurial Scotland.

Siem Offshore handed contract cancellations Norwegian support vessel operator Siem Offshore Inc. has received notices of termination for three vessels that were booked for work in 2015.

Karmorneftegaz SARL has sent the termination notices in respect of seasonal work in the Kara Sea for the two Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels Siem Topaz and Siem Amethyst and for Platform Supply Vessel Siem Pilot.

According to the contract, an early termination fee is payable.

Karmorneftegaz SARL (Luxembourg) is the joint venture established between Rosneft (66.67%) and ExxonMobil (33.33%) for the project in the Kara Sea.

Saipem hit by South Stream project cancellation

Italian oil and gas industry contractor

Saipem says it has received a Notification

of suspension of Marine Spread activities

from their client South Stream Transport B.V.

for the South Stream pipeline construction

contract.

Saipem says that the notification covers all

vessels currently engaged in activities related

to pipe laying. In the contract announcement

from March 2014, Saipem said that the

pipeline construction on the project would be

carried out by Saipem 7000, the J-Lay vessel,

and Castoro Sei, the S-lay vessel.

Saipem had been contracted by South Stream

Transport B.V. for the construction of the first

line of the South Stream Offshore Pipeline,

from Russia to Bulgaria across the Black Sea,

for a total value of approximately EUR 2 billion

USD (2.47bn), as well as to provide supporting

works relating to the construction of the

second line of the South Stream Offshore

Pipeline for a total value of approximately EUR

400 million (USD 494m).

Earlier it was reported that Pieter Schelte,

worlds largest crane vessel, lost the South

Stream contract.

Russia shelved the South Stream project

because of reluctance of the EU to give the

go-ahead for plans to supply southern Europe

with gas via Bulgaria. Putin added that Turkey

may be an alternative option for the plans.

Following the cancellation, Alexey Miller,

Chairman of the Gazprom Management

Committee and Mehmet Konuk, Chairman

of the Board of Directors of Botas Petroleum

Pipeline Corporation signed in Ankara

a Memorandum of Understanding on

constructing an offshore gas pipeline across

the Black Sea towards Turkey.

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Mercury Hitches a Ride

The convoy consisting of three main and two spare sea tugs towing Mercury jackup rig left Arkhangelsk seaport on November 14, 2014, said Rosmorport in a release.

The towed construction was assembled at shipbuilding production association of Astrakhan for further assembly at Turkmensky shelf of the Caspian Sea in order to drill boreholes with depth of more than 9 km for hydrocarbons extraction. It is planned to install the jackup rig, which height and weight are 145 metres and 11 thousand tons, respectively, at depths of 107 meters. The rig can accommodate 105 persons.

Pilotage of the towage convoy is provided by the Astrakhan Branch pilots together with VTS operators of Astrakhan and Olya seaport, and departments of navigational and hydrographic information services of the branch, representatives of which provided marine survey of the convoy route.

IWCF introduces new style certificates to combat fraud

The International Well Control Forum (IWCF) - the independent, not-for-profit organisation, which sets international training standards for well control - has launched a new certification system designed to make it easier for candidates and employers to verify qualifications.

IWCF is continuing to make significant changes to training programmes to ensure consistently high standards of instruction for global well control training in line with OGP 476 recommendations.

As part of the commitment to ensure continuity across well control training, IWCF has introduced increased security features to help combat instances of fraudulent certificates.

The measures include holograms, serial numbers and watermarks as well as a QR code, which will allow candidates or employers instant access to the IWCF system to verify the certificates authenticity. The wallet cards have also been updated to reflect these changes, giving candidates the benefit of having all the information they need in an easy-to-carry format.

Antony Quin, General Manager of IWCF said: While certificate fraud isnt common, we have been made aware of some instances where training centres have issued invalid certificates or individuals tampered with their qualifications. Fortunately, we have always worked closely with operators and encouraged them to be vigilant and these instances have been pickedup. The new measures we have introduced will help prevent this from happening as the certificates will be much harder to duplicate. Feedback from the training centres so far has also been very encouraging.

The system is expected to be rolled out to IWCFs global network of training centres from April 2015.

ISN targets UKCS growth with Aberdeen acquisitionISN has acquired Aberdeen IT consultancy, Virtual Stream, for an undisclosed sum.

The specialist information and communications technology (ICT) services firm, headquartered in London, is enhancing its oil and gas expertise and presence by establishing an operation in the heart of Aberdeen, through this acquisition.

ISN works with oil and gas companies at every stage of their asset or business maturity, and delivers high performance ICT solutions and services that power companies from head office to well site, both in the UK and internationally.

HepcoMotion acquires automation specialist Severn Automation

The new operation will trade as HepcoAutomation, retaining Severns existing staff and premises in Telford, Shropshire. Severn have built up a fine reputation for innovative automation solutions and excellent customer service, not just in the Telford area but across the UK.

HepcoMotion have been working closely with Severn for over 18 months. In that time customers have experienced the benefits of the close integration between the two companies. With a flexible approach to solving customers problems manufacturing organisations will be able to obtain automation systems that provide real value for money.

With our long established experience in linear motion and Severns undoubted motion control expertise, we will be able to satisfy a much broader range of customers requirements says HepcoMotions Sales Director Christopher Rees.

The new operation will have considerably more manufacturing capacity with the ability to utilise Hepcos main manufacturing plant in Tiverton Devon for the construction of certain machine elements.

Mark Bragg, previous part owner of Severn Automation will be the General Manager of the new operation and will support the sales effort working closely with Hepcos nationwide network of Sales Engineers. Mark comments

We are looking forward to an exciting future working as part of Hepco and the possibilities this new venture will bring, the work that Severn Automation undertakes is a perfect match for Hepco and its range of linear products. Now as HepcoAutomation we can now give the customer the option of a complete turnkey solution from design concept to completion.

Such has been the smooth transition to the new organisation that orders are already being taken for HepcoAutomation.

News In Brief....

News In Brief

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Aberdeen based, Hydro Group Plc, a global design and manufacturer of underwater cables and connectors for subsea, underwater, topside and onshore applications, has secured a six figure contract with the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Hydro Group has been selected by the Canadian National Defence Organisation for cable repair work and to design and develop a new cable system infrastructure for an undersea sensor range installation in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The contract follows a string of successful projects supporting a Canadian Naval installation in Victoria, British Columbia in 2013. Hydro Group successfully repaired on-site a submerged sensor network that was out of service due to a damaged cable, restoring the range to full functionality, meeting environmental and life time requirements of the system.

Graham Wilkie, Hydro Group Sales Director, said: The contract is a direct result of Hydro Groups capabilities, as well as the quality of our work. We were pleased to receive the initial request for support from the Canadian National Defence Organisation and

UK Offshore and renewable energy training specialists, Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) is celebrating after a phenomenal year of trading which has seen it create 58 new jobs and grow turnover by more than 100%.

In the last year, the North Shields based company has unveiled a brand new state-of-the-art offshore survival centre, a new 1m purpose built hotel and a new CompEx Electrical centre, as well as launching innovative new services such as interest free finance.

These new projects have contributed to 105% growth in business turnover and the creation of 58 new jobs at AIS including several senior level appointments.

This pace of growth looks set to continue in 2015. In January the company is poised to launch a dedicated Renewable Energy Centre of Excellence - endorsed by industry bodies such as RenewableUK and the Global Wind Organisation - and a Careers Advice Centre where people can get all the careers information and guidance they need to enter the global energy industry.

AIS is also planning a number of initiatives with the education sector to help create the next generation of skilled and motivated workers for the global energy industry.

AIS managing director, Paul Stonebanks said: AIS has seen an average growth of more than 80% year-on-year since our inception seven years ago but 2014 really has been exceptional.

One of our key strengths is our ability to respond quickly to customer needs. Businesses are increasingly conscious of staff well-being, as well as overall costs - while individuals need

help with careers guidance and financing. Weve responded by creating a world-class offshore training village where people and companies can get all the skills training they need for the global energy sector in one place they can even stay in our low-cost onsite hotel.

Companies get peace of mind because we manage all their staff training programmes organising and scheduling courses and accommodation to minimise the impact on individuals. And for people paying for their own training we provide all the support and guidance they need to pursue an offshore career, as well as offering financial help through interest free finance packages.

This approach has helped us to scoop a number of new training contracts this year which has significantly boosted our turnover. Moving forward AIS has ambitious plans to work with the education sector to develop training programmes for young people which will deliver the highly-skilled future workforce that the UK and industry desperately needs.

AIS continues growth

Some of the 58 staff taken on in 2014

responded to the urgent need to return the damaged system to full operation.

We are especially pleased that our initial service has led to the development of our business with the Canadian Defence Organisation and we will continue to design and deliver reliable cable connection systems to meet their requirements.

www.hydrogroupplc.com

Hydro Group secures Canadian defence contract

Industry News

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The Q3 2014 Oil & Gas UK Business Sentiment Index published last October shows that optimism in the sector continues to decline with a drop from two points above zero on the -50 to +50 index to seven points below zero. While there are still some companies expressing optimism, the majority of survey respondents cite rising costs, a reduction in drilling and the drop in oil price among factors curbing the optimism.

Published quarterly, the index captures a snapshot of the industry mood and gauges a number of economic indicators, including business confidence, activity levels, business revenue, investment and employment with a higher rating (above zero) indicating a more positive outlook and a lower rating (below zero) expressing a more negative opinion.

Oonagh Werngren, Oil & Gas UKs operations director, said: Over the last six quarters, there has been a marked trend towards declining optimism in the sector but this is the first time the overall index has moved into negative territory since 2009.

In recent months, the North Sea oil and gas industry has been considering the implications of a falling oil price which makes it harder to attract new investment. Many of our survey respondents expressed concern over future activity levels, which have not been helped by rising costs.

The industry urgently awaits an announcement on the 28th Licensing Round, the appointment of the new chief executive officer of the Oil and Gas Authority and the outcome of the Treasurys fiscal review to ensure that the basin remains competitive on a global basis. Together, answers on these should help boost confidence in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Ahead of the announcement of the CEO for the new Oil and Gas Authority, the industry has been working with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to implement some of the key recommendations of the Wood Report aimed at maximising recovery from the UKCS. This will help deliver both opportunity and certainty in the UKCS which, despite the current pessimism, last year saw capital investment reach 14.4 billion its highest in three decades.

Latest Oil and Gas UK report shows offshore industry increasingly pessimistic

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An Aberdeen HSE and risk management firm opened its doors this month to give people a glimpse of how varied a career in oil and gas can be.

Stirling Group - Altor took part in the first ever National Oil & Gas Skills Week which welcomed 4,000 people from all walks of life to more than 50 events at venues across the UK.

Organisers OPITO, the industry skills organisation, said an average of 1,000 people per day took part in the inaugural National Oil and Gas Skills Week which saw events of all shapes and sizes take place in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William, North Shields and London from November 11-14th.

Nicola Laurenson, Project Manager, who organised the event at Stirling Group - Altor said: The week has enabled companies like Altor to show another side of the oil and gas industry, away from the traditional view of offshore workers. This is a dynamic industry which relies on a huge number of support staff and we were keen to engage with the wider workforce, particularly those with no existing oil and gas experience.

The feedback on the day was excellent and we were very pleased to support this initiative. We take pride in having a strong workforce and hope to have encouraged more people to consider a career in HSE and risk management services.

Stirling Group - Altor welcomed delegates from a range of backgrounds, including final year RGU Law and Management student Kieren Murphy who heard about the event through his university.

I have been studying environmental law as well as safety regulations and had previously completed a placement with an oil firm which included emergency response training, he explains. I am interested in working in health & safety after graduating, so this was the ideal opportunity to learn more in a practical way.

Kieren was tasked with the role of Duty Manager, a position he found challenging. As the key client representative in the room, all decisions came down to me and

I had to remain calm while dealing with a very high pressure situation.

The day was very enjoyable and has given me a good insight into what a career in this area might involve.

OPITO UK managing director John McDonald said: The Stirling Group - Altor event during Doors Open Day fitted perfectly with the ethos behind National Oil & Gas Skills Week; to give people a closer look inside the industry and see

Inaugural industry event sees Stirling Group - Altor open its doors to the publicthe scale of different careers it offers. Its about opening people up to the myriad of opportunities, whether its in training, study or transferring their skills, so they can see a logical way to join this innovative sector.

Our hope is that those who took part in the Doors Open Day initiative will have a better understanding of all the exciting and varied roles this industry has to offer.

www.altor-risk-group.com

Nicola Laurenson briefs delegates in the Stirling Group - Altor Incident Management Centre ahead of scenario

Keiren Murphy takes on the role of duty manager

Delegates role played a number of key roles during the event including HSE, media and site contact

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North East engineering firm OSBIT Power has revealed a 450% growth in turnover for the last year as profits went up from 21,000 to 1.4m.Staff numbers have increased from 19 to 32 and OP has been able to pay off all of the company start-up debts.

MD Dr Tony Trapp said: This is the year that Osbit Power earned its place among the worlds most innovative offshore engineering design and build businesses. We have worked hard and constantly pushed the boundaries to stay at the very top of our game.

These remarkable results are a source of great pride at OP and provide us with a powerful platform to build on.

Company strategy is to organically grow the business providing world-class solutions to a diverse range of customers, generally related to offshore oil and gas, and offshore renewables. In achieving this growth OP will generate wealth for the region, the owners and all staff.

OP engineers are the key resource for the company. OP has a mix of experienced engineers and new recruits. Five fresh graduates joined the business this summer. Six student placements have been completed in 2014 and two of these are signed up to join the business after graduation next year.

During the year OP, now in its fifth year and based in Riding Mill in Northumberland, was successful in winning a number of larger contracts and gained important customers including three different Technip businesses, Subsea 7, GE Oil and Gas, Helix and Deepocean.

Technology supplied during the year included a walk to work system for offshore wind and a 35m telescopic gangway to connect an accommodation barge to an oil platform.

Other areas of activity include launch and recovery systems for equipment and cables, fatigue test rigs and seabed trenching equipment.

The companys performance is particularly good news for OPs staff, as 20% of the value of the business is allocated to a share options scheme for the benefit of the entire workforce.

www.osbitpower.com

Deep Casing Tools awarded Statoil frame agreementDeep Casing Tools is pleased to announce the signing of a frame agreement with Statoil Petroleum AS.

The contract covers the supply of Deep Casing Tools revolutionary drillable casing and liner reamer technology, including its high-speed, drillable reaming system, the Turbocaser Express, already deployed by Statoil. The agreement applies to the Norwegian Continental Shelf and has a contract life of two years with three option periods of two years each.

Deep Casing Tools CEO Lance Davis said: This very significant multi-year agreement cements the foundation of our Norwegian and North Sea business as we continue to build our track record.

The opportunity in Norway, as in other arenas, is to provide solutions to some key industry drivers: risk reduction when running tubulars to total depth, reducing flat time and trouble zone costs, and improving well bore conditions for cement placement and integrity.

In answer to growing industry demand, we have now supplied more than 200 tools globally.

www.deepcasingtools.com

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Marine Electronics for the Oil & Gas Industry

Supply, Installation and Service

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Flexlife, specialist provider of flexible pipe integrity and engineering services for the oil and gas industry, has generated more than 4million in new orders over the first six months of this financial year.

The company, which launched seven years ago, is widely recognised throughout the industry for its expertise and excellence in the integrity and engineering of flexible risers and flowlines.

Expanding its global reach beyond the UKCS and West Africa where demand continues, Flexlife has also generated new business in the US, with approximately half of all new orders coming from its Houston base, which opened in 2012. The company has already won 2million in contracts so far in the US this year, with further deals in progress.

Flexlife CEO, Ciaran ODonnell, said: The Houston market has improved our exposure to customers with existing flexible riser systems inventory and capital projects globally. Its amazing how much interest we have generated in the States, and in such a short period of time. We have no doubt the office and this market and region, will continue to grow in its capabilities and contract wins.

Flexible riser systems have now been deployed worldwide for 30 years, and historically have proven extremely reliable. However like all long service products, they can suffer integrity problems over time. A lack of inspection or maintenance can be one of the biggest issues affecting performance.

As a safety critical item, flexible flowlines need to be fit for

purpose and have a sufficient operational life so they can continue to be utilised in a safe manner. Flexlife works together with clients to ensure the integrity of their subsea flexible assets.

The value we bring through our unique knowledge of flexible riser systems throughout their entire life cycle is really the key to our growth. We employ high caliber professionals with both academic and practical backgrounds who are complimented by a specialist expertise in subsea flexible product design, manufacture, installation and operation, said ODonnell.

Flexlife has accrued an enviable breadth of subsea expertise through its work with operating companies across the industry. With engineering staff between its HQ in Aberdeen and its Newcastle and Houston offering, the company is continuing to add new services to operators, building on their heritage in technology and service development around flexibles. www.flexlife.co.uk

Ciaran ODonnell, Flexlife CEO

Flexlife see global demand grow following a successful six months

Reftrade UK takes market lead as it expands fleet Aberdeen-based, Reftrade UK has increased its fleet of refrigerated containers and temperature controlled units for sale and lease to the offshore energy sector, following a highly successful period of international growth.

Reftrade UK has introduced 23 additional units to its rental fleet which included four Zoned containers which are available to the European market, following an investment of over 500,000 by the Reftrade Group.

Greg Spence, managing director of Reftrade UK said: We have experienced significant interest in our range of refrigerated units

across Europe, which has prompted us to increase our fleet by adding 23 new units this year to meet client demand.

Reftrade UK enjoys a unique market position, as the only locally owned company supplying top-of-the-range, DNV accredited refrigerated units to the global energy industry. Operating from our headquarters in Aberdeen, the oil capital of Europe, ideally positions us to react quickly to the changing needs of the industry and offer our clients local, round-the-clock technical support and mobilisation.

Reftrade UK is the only supplier of refrigerated containers and temperature controlled units which is owned and operated from Aberdeen.

Greg continued, The Reftrade UK product range is constantly evolving in line with client requirements. I am confident that our increased and improved range of containers will appeal to new and existing clients.

Reftrade UK has a proven track record of supplying quality, bespoke Zoned and Safe Area units that exceed both British and European safety standards.

www.reftrade.com

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Oil and gas economics specialist Dundas Consultants sees turnover rise 30% to 2.8 millionOil and gas technical and commercial specialist Dundas Consultants has seen annual turnover increase by 30% to 2.8 million in only its third year of business.

The achievement follows a year of continuous growth by the company, which was founded by Richard Woodhouse and Alan Crerar in 2011 to provide specialist services in development engineering and petroleum economics, as well as subsurface and well engineering support.

Over the past 12 months, Dundas Consultants has added BG Group, Cluff Natural Resources, Dana Petroleum, and Iona Energy to its broad client base of oil and gas operators and has brought two new team members on board.

Reservoir geologist, Jill Marriott, brings over 20 years experience in the oil and gas industry and has previously worked in the UK and Australia for major operators including TAQA and Shell. Having started her career as a sedimentologist, she went

on to undertake a number of exploration and development geology roles and has spent the last few years as a subsurface manager. Since August, Jills role as Chief Geologist has seen her build a subsurface team focussed on high quality technical work with a strong business focus.

Henry Duncan has worked in well operations and well design predominately for major operators including Shell, and Lundin Petroleum, and has a wealth of experience in managing drilling operations. He joined Dundas Consultants in October as Director of Well Engineering. Within Dundas, Henrys area of expertise will remain in drilling engineering and well design, including wells operational readiness and UK legislative requirements.

Dundas Consultants director Richard Woodhouse said: We are extremely pleased to end our trading year on such a high note. We have built on last years achievements and our success is in part a result of bringing in more high value work

from across the sector.

This year we undertook one of our largest projects to date, with a joint industry funded multi-discipline study lead by Oil and Gas UK. This was a 3,000-hour assignment covering subsurface work, development engineering and petroleum economics, and it really played to our strengths of integrating thinking across disciplines.

The company has set an ambitious growth target for 2015.

www.dundasconsultants.com

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Please confIRm aPPRoval of PRoof.12 / 3 / 14

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DockGuard at Grimsby

Aberdeen Harbour receives funding for environmental impact assessmentAberdeen Harbour Board has received funding from the European Commissions TEN-T 2013 transport infrastructure initiative, to support on-going studies into the potential expansion of the Harbour into Nigg Bay.

The funding will allow the development of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the modelling of wave climate in the proposed port using a specially constructed scaled model. A total of 752,500Euros (0.6m), 50% of the total costs of these studies, will be provided, with the balance being met by the Board.

Colin Parker, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Harbour said: The award of this funding is hugely significant. It further demonstrates recognition of this highly strategic project as one of

national and international importance. It also recognises the Boards diligence in ensuring all the requirements of any future application, in particular the environmental considerations, are met in their entirety.

We are particularly pleased that the Commission considered our application, produced with the assistance of the Aberdeen-based TEN-TaNS Project Framework, to be very relevant, realistic and consistent, as well as of very good quality. The Board is committed to seeking public funding in support of the Nigg Bay Project, and we hope that similar funding to this will be secured in support of the construction project itself.

Amongst a number of subjects, the EIA will include individual studies into noise

mapping, air quality, visual impact, socio-economic factors, hydrodynamics, fish and bird life, archaeology, traffic/ transport and water sediment/ quality. The modelling will look into wave analysis, climate and mooring conditions. Both reports are due for completion in 2015.

Since stating our intention to investigate the possibility of expansion into Nigg Bay, continued Colin Parker, we have entered a period of intense and thorough engagement with all key stakeholders including customers, local residents and the wider business community. This process will continue ahead of submitting any potential planning application in the future.

www.aberdeen-harbour.co.uk

Increasingly these days, large scale engineering projects are sourced overseas where the draw of cheap materials and labour seem the best option. However Luton based DockGuard were proud to be involved with the truly British

project for Torsion Arm Fender Systems worth over 1.4M at Grimsby River Terminal.

DockGuard worked extensively with British main contractor Graham Construction Ltd and civil engineering consultant Mouchel Ltd to design a unique Fender and Pile support system for the new Finger Pier.

Fabrication for the pile sleeves and X-bracing was undertaken in British yards. Great British engineering from concept design through fabrication and installation is exciting for us to be involved with a

spokesperson for the company said.

The new terminal is now operational with no difficulties encountered throughout the entire Dockguard supply of eighteen double Torsion Arm fenders including both 1000H and 1100H Cone Fenders, 100T Mooring Bollards, 100T double and quadruple quick release hooks, free standing capstans and 400x400 Hollow D Fenders.

For more information visit: www.dockguard.co.uk

Port & Quayside Facilities

Peterhead invests on strong traffic Peterhead Port Authority has achieved a record tonnage of commercial shipping in 2014. Last year saw the port handle 12,000,000 gross tonnes of shipping for the first time, and further growth in oil and gas trade has already produced another record year. The main growth has been in the number of port calls by larger vessels associated with the subsea construction sector, with Smith Quay proving to be a popular and capable base for efficiently handling projects.

Meantime, plans have been unveiled for a 47 million investment in Peterhead Port to ensure it remains at the forefront of the fishing industry and to enhance and diversify the range of berths for commercial vessels.

Proposals drawn up by Peterhead Port Authority will develop the harbour into a fully integrated, sate-of-the-art fishing hub by 2016. The developments include constructing a much larger fishmarket to cater for continued growth in this sector. The current market at Merchants Quay will then be removed and the berth dredged to 8.5 metres. This will create a 185 metre long deepwater and sheltered quay, supported by 13,000 square metre adjacent working area. Merchants Quay is located adjacent to Smith Quay, which was opened in 2010 and has successfully handled a wide range of projects for the offshore oil and gas industry. These two facilities will complement each other to provide a centre of excellence for handling projects associated with the subsea, renewables and decommissioning

markets. The development includes reclaiming a further 15,000 square metres at Smith Quay, creating more land for handling larger projects, laydown and storage options.

Smith Quay has proven to be a very convenient location for mobilising projects. Clients get a significant advantage from the adjacent secure storage space. The site is popular for quayside fabrication with companies using the space for completing large spool pieces, building cable lay systems and refurbishing reels and tensioners. Large or heavy items can also be stored close to the berth for the duration of a project, thus avoiding high costs for double handling and the delays of arranging road transport off the port. In September 2014, an agreement was completed with NorSea Group, a significant provider of

quayside facilities in the Norwegian oil and gas sector. They will operate the site, bringing investment and expertise to the port. This will provide clients with a choice of service provider at Peterhead. Logistics specialist, Asco recently celebrated 40 years of successfully delivering services at Peterhead from their purpose built facilities in the port.

John Wallace, Chief Executive of Peterhead Port Authority, said These strategic proposals for the introduction of state-of-the-art facilities will inject fresh confidence into the local industry and help us further position the port as the premier fishing port in Europe and a centre of excellence for oil and gas activity. All aspects of the development will have a tremendous impact on the port, town and subsequently the local business community.

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Ennsub, the independent subsea design, engineering and technology company, has been awarded a contract worth 2 million by Benthic to build a newly enhanced and portable Launch and Recovery System to complement the latest addition to its seabed drilling and geotechnical drill fleet.

The Launch and Recovery System (LARS4) features Active Heave Compensation and 3000m deployment capability. It has been designed to provide Benthic and its clients with an enhanced deployment capability in deep and ultra-deepwater conditions and harsh environments. It has been configured to allow mobilisation of Benthics Portable Remotely Operated Drills (PRODs) on a wider range of vessels than was previously possible.

The contract includes the detailed design, manufacture and testing of a fully integrated launch and recovery solution, comprising of a high-speed electric winch

Ennsub wins major contract to build bespoke launch and recovery system for Benthics latest remotely operated drill unit

MP Filtri and Macscott Bond announce new partnership.MP Filtri UK Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Macscott Bond as sales partner for Southern Scotland.

Commencing immediately Macscott Bond will become a brand new distribution channel for MP Filtri products.

MP Filtri is a manufacturer of Hydraulic Filtration products, Hydraulic condition monitoring equipment and hydraulic tank accessories.

Speaking on behalf of MP Filtri, Sales Manager for Scotland and Eire, Paul Gavin said, Macscott Bond is a long established user of MP Filtri products and is a company who have earned an enviable worldwide reputation for their hydraulic design and manufacturing capability most notably in the marine, defence & oil and gas markets.

Our partnership with Macscott Bond will allow MP Filtri users to access an enormous depth of knowledge and expertise in all aspects of hydraulics, filtration and condition monitoring and will support those who seek the advantages on hydraulic efficiency and performance who wish to upgrade to MP Filtri filtration and condition monitoring technology.

Brian White General Manager of Macscott Bond and Bill Marsh Managing Director of parent company Mactaggart Scott (pictured) also commented:

We expect MP Filtri to become a valuable addition to our portfolio of products. The MP Filtri range has grown substantially

in recent years and we use their products for our in house manufacturing wherever possible. We have watched with interest as their range of particle counters has become the industry standard. We share the same goals of outstanding customer service and product quality and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

Macscott Bond operate their manufacturing, administration and product sales functions from their site at Loanhead, Edinburgh and are now available to take enquiries for the complete range of MP Filtri products.

For more details on the MP Filtri range of filtration and hydraulic condition monitoring equipment please get in touch with MacScott Bond at:

www.macscottbond.co.uk

with active heave compensation, bespoke deployment system and all associated power and control systems. The work will be undertaken at Ennsubs new production facility in Teesside, UK.

The equipment, which is estimated to take around eight months to design and build, will undergo detailed commissioning during Q2 2015 and will commence operations later that year.

Scott Macknocher, managing director of Ennsub, said: This award reinforces our belief that an explicit understanding of end-user needs - coupled with creative thinking and technical competence - can result in industry-leading deployment solutions for our customers.

The Benthic LARS4 aims to deliver enhanced operating capabilities over comparable units and complements Benthics ambition as a leader in geotechnical seabed investigation.

Steve Pywell, chief executive officer, Benthic added: Benthic is very pleased with how the LARS4 design has been developed - to provide an enhanced deployment capability over a wide range of weather conditions yet fit within a relatively small on-deck footprint. We anticipate that LARS4 will enable Benthic to deliver services to our clients more efficiently and more reliably.

www.ennsub.com

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Inspection of Coflexip Flexible Pipe on Seabed with MEC-FITTM TechniquenA successful inspection of an 8 Coflexip flexible pipeline located on the seabed in the North Sea was recently performed by Innospection in a project with a Norwegian Operator. The challenge of the inspection was the detection of wire misalignment and defects such as metal loss or wire cracking in the tighter wire setup of the flexible pipe with a 15 wire angle arrangement. The operational task was the inspection of the major accessible area of the flexible pipe on the seabed, including a larger bend of the exposed section.

The inspection was performed using the patented MEC-FITTM technique developed by Innospection to provide a reliable and technically advanced solution for the inspection of flexible risers operated from offshore installation. MEC-FITTM is based on the combination of an Eddy Current field with a controlled magnetic field which not only allows the deeper penetration into the various armour layers for defect detection in the inner layers but also enables the optimisation of inspection for a specific layer from which a defect signal is received.

The capabilities demonstrated by the MEC-FITTM technique include fast external scanning with the ability to detect localised and general defects such as cracks and corrosion up to the third metal layer from the outside with armour layers having a 30-45 wire angle. As it is an electromagnetic technique, no annulus flooding is required which minimises the risk of damage to the inner layers of the flexible risers. In addition, only minimal cleaning of the flexible risers is required for the inspection.

Due to the configuration of the 8 Coflexip flexible pipeline to be inspected, the MEC-FITTM technique was further developed which was successfully tested and verified to be sensitive in the detection of defects in the flexible pipes having the tighter armour wire setup at 15 angle.

With a signal to background ratio of >6dB, a 90% Probability of Detection (POD) was achieved in the detection of wire gap and wire misalignment defects such as single and multiple wire gap in the outer layers, multiple wire gap in the inner layers as well as extra wire on top outer layer. In fact, the POD for the defects in the structure with the 15 wire angle was proven to be even higher in comparison to the structure with the 35 wire angle, showing the enhanced defect detection sensitivity of the technique.

The analysis of the Eddy Current signals showed clear signal phase separation between wire gaps, corrosion and crack indications. Such analysis of the signal phase versus the magnetic field enables the detection of defects in the different layers. With variation in the field strength, the layer in which the defect is located could also be analysed. The encoded systems in the axial and circumferential orientation allow colour condition maps with generated colour images of the indications and detected defects to be established. Diagram 1 shows a scan map of a section of the flexible riser with analysis filters of different part of the Eddy Current and Magnetic Field system. To overcome the subsea deployment challenge and the inspection of the flexible pipe on the seabed including the larger

bend of the exposed section, a customised subsea inspection tool known as the MEC- PipeCrawler was built. The subsea tool was tested prior to offshore deployment on the effects of a change in the lift-off in anticipation of the inspection of the exposed flexible pipes bent area.

Diagram 2 shows the influence of the various lift-offs on the background signals on an intact 15 wire structure with artificial defects. In principle, a lift-off of 14mm and below has no effect on the background signals. At a lift-off of 18mm, the background signal becomes slightly weaker due to an increasing noise level but the artificial defects on the top layer could still be clearly detected.

Diagram 3 shows the MEC-PipeCrawler during the inspection of the flexible pipe on the seabed including the exposed bent area.

The MEC-PipeCrawler enables the scanning of the flexible pipe in the axial direction and could be repositioned using its hydraulically driven wheels to perform the inspection in the circumferential orientation. The scanner head with a multiple sensor array covered 180mm circumferentially and several axial runs with overlaps were taken to cover the major accessible areas of the flexible pipe. The distances driven were measured with an encoder wheel. An umbilical connected to the inspection tool supplies the electrical and hydraulic power and is also used for the routing of the signals via fibre optics to the Eddy Current Data Acquisition system located at the topside.

For more information, please contact: info@innospection.com

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New oil & gas app puts training records back in the hands of the offshore workforce Offshore workers will for the first time be able to access their training records at the touch of a button wherever they are in the world thanks to a new mobile application which launched on the 19th November.

Oil and gas skills organisation OPITO has developed the free TRAIN-R mobile app so workers in any international location are better able to plan and track their OPITO training via an iPhone or iPad to ensure their safety and competency certification is always up to date.

The global industry can verify training records through OPITOs Central Register and the Vantage system to track personnel working offshore. Individual workers however have to date not been able to access the secure database, relying instead on keeping their own records or receiving notification from their employers.

The OPITO TRAIN-R app allows them to access a personalised calendar of their OPITO training and assessment programmes from anywhere around the world at any time, ensuring they are able to remain up to date and compliant with whatever training is needed for their specific role onshore or offshore.

It will also provide information on the network of OPITO-approved training

providers in 40 countries around the world so they can quickly find their nearest approved centre.

With as much as 80% of the estimated 1.5million oil and gas workers worldwide employed on a contracting basis, the app is expected to deliver tangible benefits to both industry employees and employers.

The need for every offshore worker to be trained to appropriate safety standards and the creation of a system for logging their certification were among the outcomes of Lord Cullens investigation into the Piper Alpha tragedy, said OPITO Group chief executive David Doig.

This saw workers issued with hard copies of their personal training records up until the establishment of the Central Register and the Vantage system for North Sea operators that we have today.

Having a centrally managed database provided employers with the avenue to verify training records and ended the era of the less reliable paper-based system.

Advances in mobile application technology however mean that once again, every individual can now have their personal training record in their hands.

It gives the offshore workforce more ownership over their training, provides them with proof of their verification at the touch of a button and ensures they have one less thing to remember to do when they are back onshore.

Mike Horgan, global sector leader of brownfield and asset management at Amec Foster Wheeler and OPITO chairman said: Our workforce is not only our greatest asset as a company but having a skilled, competent and certified workforce is also vital to the health of the UKCS.

Giving workers the ability to manage their training in an easy and flexible way wherever they are in the world will ensure they remain certified in all aspects of their job.

The OPITO TRAIN-R app is available to download from the app store or via:

www.opito.com

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The Smart Choice Trusted by some of the biggest names in the subsea industryThe VideoRay Pro 4 helps you get the job done quickly and safely

So ask yourself Why choose anything else?

www.atlantasmarine.com

F: +44 (0)1935 426 522

E: info@atlantasmarine.com

T: +44 (0)1935 426 000

Specialists in the supply ofWorld Class ROVs, Sonarsand Accessories to theSubsea Market.

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The innovative design of DTG2 is like no other ROV on the market. Powered by on-board rechargeable batteries negating the need for a bulky surface power supply, Deep Trekker offers many advantages over the typical top side powered ROVs. The on-board batteries mean a smaller diameter tether and thus lower drag and eliminates power loss down the tether. A smart charger simply plugs into the back of the ROV with a 6-8 hour operating life from a single charge. The Deep Trekker range is designed to be ultra-portable at under 9 kgs, ships in a single box and is exceptionally simple to deploy and operate. Users can have eyes in the water in 30 seconds.

The HD camera feed streams live video to the integrated LCD screen on the controller and can be plugged to a digital video recorder or TV-monitor if required.

Deep Trekker is available in 4 basic models with increasing capability culminating with the top of the range DTG-2 Worker with a 2 function grabber, increased thruster power, and full sensor suite to provide on screen sea water temperature, heading, pitch and roll, depth and camera angle along with auto heading and depth capability.

The unique design of the Deep Trekker is based around a patented pitching system which means that only two thrusters are required for complete manoeuvrability. An increasing range of accessories including additional lighting, video glasses,

crawler wheels, laser scaler, Tritech Micron sonar, and a thickness gauge are also available.

Planet Ocean MD Terry Sloane commented, We have been waiting for the right ROV to come along to enhance our other offerings, and Deep Trekker fits the bill exactly. It should be of huge interest to our existing customers in the science, aquaculture, moorings inspection, military, search and rescue, and ports and harbours sectors. It is fantastic value for such a powerful ROV and makes this technology affordable to many new potential users. We look forward to doing customer demonstrations, this really has to be seen!

www.planet-ocean.co.uk

Planet Ocean is pleased to announce their appointment as UK and Ireland distributors for the Canadian Deep Trekker range of remotely operated vehicles.

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Technip Introduces the Deep Explorer diving support vesselTechnip has unveiled the name for its latest newbuild Diving Support Vessel (DSV), currently being built by Vard.

The state-of-the-art vessel will be known as the Deep Explorer.

The high-specification vessel will be equipped with the latest technology in terms of navigation (Dynamic Positioning class 3) and will feature a 24-man saturated dive system. With her large deck area, working moonpool, work-class ROVs

and a 400Te offshore crane, she will also be able to deliver diverless construction activities.

Technips commitment to investing in the new vessel was announced in April 2014.

Following the detailed engineering and design phase, construction of the ships hull commenced at Vard Tulcea in Romania a few months ago. On completion of the hull, the vessel will be towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for final equipment outfitting and commissioning. She is scheduled to join the Technip fleet in 2016.

Purpose-designed for the demanding requirements of the North Sea and Canadian markets, the Deep Explorer will be capable of working in extreme weather conditions. Her potential area of

operations remains global.

Knut Boe, senior vice- president of Technips North Sea Canada region, said: Technip has a long history in the diving industry and we are very pleased to extend our long-term commitment to diving and to the oil and gas industry with the development of this important new vessel. At delivery, the Deep Explorer will be the most advanced DSV in the world.

www.technip.com

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Proserv secures significant contract with Hess CorporationGlobal-leading energy services company Proserv has secured a major contract win worth in excess of $20 million, underpinning the companys fast-evolving international footprint and market-leading status in the subsea arena.

This latest award by Hess Corporation is for the provision of a 12-well subsea control system along with associated topside and subsea interface equipment for the deepwater Stampede development, situated in the Gulf of Mexico.

Work for the project will be carried out in various Proserv subsea service centres and technology hubs around the world, reinforcing the companys strong inter-regional capability. The design and manufacture of the subsea electronics modules (SEMs) and subsea control modules (SCMs) will be carried out by Proservs team of subsea experts in Great Yarmouth, UK, with Proservs Trondheim facility in Norway providing technical support. Final testing, servicing and the integration of equipment will be carried out at Proservs new dedicated controls facility in Houston, USA.

The systems will be delivered to the client in a phased approach throughout 2015 and 2016 in line with key project milestones.

Proserv has a long-standing relationship with Hess Corporation and over the past three years has secured work with the operator which, including this latest award, is estimated to be worth around $35 million. These activities included providing subsea controls equipment and services for Hess Corporations Tubular Bells field, a fast-track project that has just announced first production, and Hess GoM brownfield projects.

David Lamont, Proserv CEO, said: This is a significant win for the company that highlights the strength of our technical and engineering expertise as well as our market-leading status in the subsea controls and communications field.

Proserv has already worked with Hess Corporation on several projects and the award of this contract is testament to the strength of our relationship and their trust in our ability to deliver robust technology solutions and services on time and to the highest standards. We look forward to working with Hess Corporation in the successful delivery of this project and would also like to congratulate them on the expeditious production of first oil from the Tubular Bells development.

Proserv, which operates worldwide across several regions, has a 40-year track

record in delivering bespoke solutions for the energy industry, particularly in the drilling, production, subsea and marine market sectors.

The latest contract award builds on Proservs high-profile portfolio of clients and projects, and mirrors the companys global success through contracts with major operators in other international provinces.

It also comes just weeks after Proserv was acquired by Riverstone Holdings LLC, a major US private equity investor with an impressive track record of backing independent operators and energy service companies.

www.proserv.com

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Lifting Equipment

Mike Morrison, head of cable and pipeline solutions at the Sparrows Group, discusses developments in tensioner technology.

In recent years, improvements in the technology used for offshore tensioners have been more incremental than radical. These small yet regular steps forward have delivered a gradual evolution and produced machinery which is now more cost effective, accurate, energy efficient, reliable, mobile and user friendly than ever before.

Tensioners provide support for a variety of cable and pipe-lay procedures and offshore their size generally ranges anywhere from 1.5-tonnes up to 500-tonnes depending on the cable or pipe itself and the water depth.

In oil & gas there is a particular demand in the low to mid-range from organisations operating in the shallow and medium depths of the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Middle East and Singapore.

Previously rental requirements would be solely serviced by hydraulic machinery but the benefits of electrical tensioners mean these are increasingly being requested to provide better precision in cable lay work. At slower speeds the electrical system is more reactive and is capable of very fine adjustments when compared to hydraulic and can operate just as well once things speed up.

This fine adjustment means the tensioner can also be designed to operate aboard vessels in rougher waters. The quick response of the drive means it can compensate for vessel movement and can provide savings for clients in not having to wait for conditions to be as calm before work can take place.

At the Sparrows Group, our 50-tonne rental tensioner is designed to be mobilised within a short space of time and can be easily transported by road, so regardless of where a client is in the UK a state-of-the-art tensioner can be delivered within days. The system is set up so it can be installed horizontally or vertically once offshore.

Electric tensioners are also equipped to provide better feedback to the operator with a programmable logic controller (PLC) and human machine interface that provide real-time information such as lay-speed, tension and any other details that are required can be displayed. This can go beyond the operator on the vessel and a serial link can be viewed by the client on the vessel bridge displayed on a laptop.

Remote dial-in has the added benefit of allowing specialist personnel to interrogate and diagnose any system from onshore provided the vessel has a satellite communication link.

An attraction of the improved technology for clients is the use of smaller electric motors that can run the tensioner due to the improved mechanical efficiencies of the design. Using less energy, this provides a more efficient piece of equipment and is quieter to use.

Improving technology is making many aspects of modern life more efficient, safer and cost effective. These everyday enhancements are being mirrored in the refinements to cable and pipe-lay procedures for oil & gas with the latest upgrades in the design and use of tensioners being an excellent example. www.sparrowsgroup.com

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Dave Acton, Chief Operating Officer at Motive Offshore, marine equipment specialists, discusses the importance and benefits of certified equipment in the oil and gas industryAs the oil and gas industry becomes increasingly safety driven, the need to remain vigilant and focused on maintaining good levels of health and safety is paramount.

Consequently, over the next decade the integrity of assets and equipment is set to bring fresh challenges to the whole energy sector.

Today, the industry is continually working on developing safety standards, specifically with the introduction of asset integrity management. According to the Oil and Gas UK, Health and Safety Report 2013, this can be defined as, the means for ensuring that people, systems, processes and resources that deliver integrity are in place, in use and will perform over the whole life cycle of the asset.

Furthermore, with an increase in customers continually seeking assurances and certifications on equipment, traceability and verification of compliance are key. This is why it is important that the industry continues to invest in equipment so it remains safe, reliable and efficient for the future.

As a firm that specialises in the manufacture, supply and rental of a range of equipment for the global energy industry, including winches, HPUs and other specialist marine lifting equipment, we recently made the decision to commit resources, time and money to enhance our subsea equipment range which includes subsea baskets and subsea winches. In light of the market changing requirements and client requests, we invested 400,000 to make improvements to our fleet of subsea baskets, while overall investing around 2million in our entire rental fleet.

To ensure we made accurate and efficient improvements, our in-house research and development team worked closely with DNV GL the leading technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, for almost three months on a comprehensive refurbishment programme. The enhanced baskets faced thorough prototype testing to ensure they met the appropriate regulations. As a result, all of our baskets are now certified to DNV GL 2.7-3 standard.

As safety is paramount worldwide and with so many organisations working internationally, it is essential to ensure that businesses meet the appropriate global regulations. This was highlighted to us when we opened our base in Norway, as clients frequently mentioned the requirement for certification. DNV GLs proactive assistance with the refurbishment allowed us to quickly enhance our equipment, with invaluable support and communication between the DNV GL engineers and our research and development department, our fleet of baskets has been improved.

Obtaining certification also warrants that equipment is safe, sustainable and efficient for industry use and for any offshore environment worldwide. It also is great for an organisations reputation and further strengthens its commitment and position in the industry, whilst providing clients with the reassurance that they are working with approved industry leading quality equipment.

Additionally, with approximately 50% of fixed platforms on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) exceeding design life, the management of ageing equipment has become crucial. Importantly, ageing is not just about how old the equipment, it is about the condition and how that is deteriorating over time.

Working with old and deteriorating equipment could put employees at risk and also a business, if an accident occurs. As equipment ages, it often cannot operate to the best of its ability, which impacts upon successful completion of a project and can potentially cost more time and money.

As such the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced the Ageing and Life Extension programme (ALE), also known as the KP4, to the offshore industry. The aim of the programme was to promote awareness and management of the risks associated with ageing plant in the offshore oil and gas industry. The programme focused on the ability of the offshore industry to manage the effects of ageing to ensure installations and equipment is safe for their full life cycle. The KP4 engaged and undertook 33 onshore and offshore inspections and it has been found that the industry has responded well, recognising the importance of the programme, but it was found that more needs to be done for arrangements to be implemented, with no room for complacency.

As a business, Motive Offshore is very forward planning, with certification/accreditation always in our strategy throughout the design and manufacturing process. Importantly, all equipment manufactured is rigorously tested to ensure compliance with industry standards. It is our hope that this becomes an industry wide goal, with firms striving to place safety at the forefront of their business.

www.motive-offshore.com

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Lifting Equipment

Purpose designed hoists are suitable for heavy duty underwater operationLifting and handling products manufactured by the J D Neuhaus company are engineered for performance, reliability and longevity when operating in extreme environments of dirt, dust, high humidity, and even potentially explosive atmospheres. Some of the toughest and more unusual conditions are currently experienced by todays underwater aquanauts. Divers are very often working alone, in conditions of variable depth water pressures and temperatures, combined with poor visibility while also battling with ocean currents. With all these problems to contend with, any tools they use need to be rugged, reliable, easy to operate and comply with the highest performance standards.

The last few decades have seen unparalleled development in the field of oil and gas exploration, particularly offshore. JDN hoists have played their part in this market, offering hoists with lift capacities from 250kg up to 100 tonnes, with specialised units of 200 tonnes lift capacity having been supplied for BOP handling. The development of subsea hoists means that underwater as well as on-deck lifting operations for a wide range of operational, maintenance and repair functions can be undertaken on jack-up rigs, semi-submersible platforms, drill ships and FPSO vessels. Even undertaking underwater pipeline and wellhead operations down to levels of 70 metres can also be considered.

The proliferation of offshore wind farms and wave powered generation systems has also increased the potential requirements for suitable power tools that can be safely utilised underwater. Harbour locations often require underwater work, albeit not at great depths, while lakes, rivers, dams, reservoirs and bridge building operations can also have need for similar inspection, recovery or repair operations.

The viability of JDN hoists in the underwater environment has been demonstrated when their air operated hoists were successfully utilised for the removal and replacement of a 50 ton rudder on a fully loaded bulk carrier vessel. After breakdown during a voyage from Brazil to China, the ship was first towed to a safe mooring off the coast of Venezuela, where the rudder removal and replacement work was undertaken. Three standard air operated JDN Profi 25 tonne capacity hoists were used in conjunction for this operation, with these units being subject to full rebuild procedures after the job completion. The work was successfully undertaken at sea, without the need for cargo removal or transfer.

Subsequent to this exercise, the JDN company have introduced purpose designed hoists suitable for subsea operation, incorporating uprated performance and sealing features to withstand continuous underwater operation, even at depths of 70 metres. They can be supplied for either compressed air or hydraulic operation, utilising a diver-friendly pendant controller which is compatible with constricted, gloved-hand movements.

This controller is connected by standard length 2 metre hoses to the hoist which ensures the aquanaut, hoist and load are all located within a close working environment. It is designed to ensure instantaneous and sensitive regulation of the hoist movements, providing infinitely variable speed of the load hook during both the raise and lower hoist operations. The need for voice instructions to/from a surface vessel or rig is obviated, eliminating potential delays or errors created through poor communications. Increased versatility is also provided by the fact that these hook-suspended hoists can also be safely utilised for both horizontal and oblique pulling operations when required. Overload protection is incorporated as standard to cover whatever type of underwater work is undertaken within the demanding inner space environment.

The hoist lift chains provide a 3 metre raise/lower capacity as standard for variable load options of up to 3.2 or 6.4 tonnes respectively. Variations on the length of lift chains or hose feeds to the pendant controller can also be changed for greater versatility. Hoists designed for higher or lower load limits, together with products capable of operating at depths greater than 70 metres could also be manufactured if required.

The hoist construction utilises stainless steel for smaller exposed nuts and bolts together with valve heads, with grease packed covers fitted for larger fixings and wheel bearings. The remaining exposed metalwork is finished with three layers of traffic yellow RAL 1023 marine protective paint to a 300 micron dry thickness, as normally designated for offshore, salt laden operations. These purpose designed hoists can now successfully accommodate heavy duty, high performance operations with minimum maintenance or lubrication over extended periods of subsea operation. The fact that the hoist, diver operator and workpiece being manipulated are all retained within a regulated, visual distance ensures that maximum control and safety is maintained during difficult handling procedures.

www.hoistandwinch.co.uk

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Continued investment demonstrates Firsts commitment to qualityFirst Integrated Solutions, specialists in the supply, installation and maintenance of safety critical services, continues to make major investments in its business in order to support its growing customer base and improve operational efficiencies.

The Aberdeen-headquartered oil and gas service company has recently invested over 1.6million in additional new-build assets to complement its Winches and Deck Machinery divisions offering, demonstrating its commitment to quality, asset integrity and flexibility. This latest investment will create up to five new jobs in the division next year and brings the total spent by the business on its operations this year to over 9million, including 2.5million on new headquarters at the start of the year.

Strengthening its portfolio of high-quality equipment is crucial for First Integrated Solutions as it grows its client base across its five divisions. Sitting alongside the Winches and Deck Machinery division are the Lifting and Inspection, Plant and Tooling, Lifeboats and Marine, and Crane Maintenance and Management Services divisions.

The firm has undergone a major transformation this year, which continued recently with the appointment of its first managing director. Fraser Coull joined the business in early November from Stork.

Recent investments include the purchase of 16 new-build, DNV-compliant lift winches ranging from 18 95 tonne pull and 12 new hydraulic power units up to 169kW. In addition, ancillary equipment such as line monitoring systems and sheave packages have also been bought. The new equipment will help standardise the firms equipment fleet, which will ultimately improve efficiencies

Managing director, Fraser Coull, said: The investment reinforces the transformation that First Integrated Solutions has undergone this year. This latest tranche in our Winches and Deck Machinery division underlines our commitment to providing customers with quality equipment that is certified, traceable and manufactured as new, with all new components. In that sense, our approach to fleet development is unique.

The elements of quality, traceability and flexibility are important to our clients and as a business we can assure them that asset, and therefore, technical and commercial project integrity is maintained. In the long-term we are focused on a standardised fleet of equipment, with component, footprint and overall design

commonality, which will make operations more efficient.

As well as the 16 new winches ranging from 18 95 tonne pull and 12 new hydraulic power units, we have added sheaves and a 55 tonne SWL overboarding assembly to our fleet. These extend the divisions capabilities which also extend to rope spooling, lubrication and inspection services, both in the UK and overseas.

Group finance director, Steven Mearns, added: This latest investment is another important milestone in our development and reinforces the groups financial strength. To date, the group has provided over 10million in funding facilities to enable us to invest in infrastructure, talent and working capital. This stands us in excellent stead to serve our customers going forward, and to achieve our mission to be a trusted partner, delivering premium products and services for safety critical operations to the global oil and gas, renewable and marine industries.

First Integrated Solutions is also the exclusive UK distributor for Spanish firm IBERCISAs extensive range of premium quality deck machinery. IBERCISA has a strong track record in hydraulic and energy efficient electric VFD winch systems which are widely used by firms operating in the research, fishing, shipyard, civil, renewable and offshore oil and gas markets.

Headquartered in Aberdeen and with bases in Great Yarmouth, Trinidad and Tobago, First Integrated Solutions employs 122 staff. The company provides products and services to the worldwide oil and gas, marine and renewable industries, specialising in the supply, inspection and maintenance of safety critical solutions. The business comprises five core divisions Lifting and Inspection, Plant and Tooling, Lifeboats and Marine, Winches and Deck Machinery, and Crane Maintenance and Management. Originally established in 1997, the business was acquired by First Time Group in late 2013. More information on First Integrated Solutions is available at:

www.firstintegrated.co.ukFraser Coull, First Integrated Solutions managing director

New DNV-compliant winches

Tiger Lever Hoists now available with slipping clutch overload protection

Our innovation, your safety

New low headroom heavy duty beam clamps added to our expanding range

www.tigerlifting.com

Rotrex Winches: A quality assured company

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with extensive engineering, repair and rebuild facilities they can handle almost any type and size of winch. These centres of excellence have testing facilities which cover every aspect of winch testing. Our specialist facilities include a huge linear test bed complemented by a bespoke designed back tension reeling machine (enabling us to test up to 250t tonnes) and a test tower (allowing for dynamic load lifting tests up to 25t through 10 metres).

Part of the Rotrex Group

Underpinning our equipment, quality and service is our status as part of Rotrex Group, an associate of the worlds largest organisation dedicated solely to the hire, sales, service and manufacture of winching and lifting equipment.

Rotrex Winches Credentials

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Independently assessed quality

Rotrex Winches boasts BSI ISO 9001:2008 quality accreditation across its entire range of activities. A structured programme of independent audits by the British Standards Institute (widely recognised as one of the most stringent accreditation bodies in the UK) and the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) ensures that Rotrex Winches best-in-class procedures remain consistent.

Rotrex Winches is also independently assessed by First Point Assessment (part of the Achilles Group) who have recently elevated Rotrex Winches to FPAL Verify status for achieving high level audit results for our Quality, Health & Safety, Competency/Training and Environmental procedures and activities.

Quality Products

The Rotrex Winches range of products includes many brands which are renowned for their proven designs, durable engineering and operational effectiveness and reliability. We hire and sell winches and powered hoists from Ingersoll Rand and from OMAC Engineering. We are exclusive distributors for OMAC products and an Ingersoll Rand UK winch and hoist distributor.

In addition, we hire winches manufactured by Thompson Winches, McTaggart Scott, Stothert & Pitt, Thalens, Rozler and NIM Engineering.

Quality Processes

Rotrex Winches ensures that all hire products are fully inspected, maintained and tested in accordance with the LOLER and PUWER regulations. By using competent engineers with experience and training appropriate to each returning hire product, Rotrex Winches ensures that all products for hire are fully fit for purpose and certified at the start of each new hire term.

Locations and Facilities

Our locations in London, Derby, Glasgow and Aberdeen are not just locations but also workshops which are Centres of Excellence

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Modulift Video Spreading the wordHave you ever experienced concerns while assembling your Modulift Spreader Beam?

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