innovation awards
Chain wheel manipulator has commercial and safety benefits
The competition for the Innovation Award at the Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference included propulsion machinery, a new hull design, an access system, and new equipment for anchor handlers
he Offshore Support Journal Innovation Award is presented to the company responsible for an innovative product, system or service which is considered to have made a significant impact on the design, build and/or operation of offshore support vessels (OSVs). The 2012 shortlist included:
T The Chain Wheel Manipulator enables an anchor handler to safely change chain wheels at sea
• Cargotec, for the MacGregor Chain Wheel Manipulator, a remotely-controlled system designed to install and replace chain wheels on an anchor handler while the vessel is at sea, even in adverse conditions • ABB for the Onboard DC Grid, which provides a highly efficient power distribution and electric propulsion system for a wide range of vessels, including OSVs • Offshore Solutions, for the newly launched free-standing version of the offshore access system, and • Damen Shipyards group for the Twin Axe catamaran, in which Damen’s groundbreaking Sea Axe hullform has been applied to catamarans for the first time. Cargotec, the winner of the award, developed the MacGregor Chain Wheel Manipulator in response to an approach from shipbuilder STX. The company needed a solution for five
anchor handlers it was building for DOF in Brazil. The vessels are intended for operation some distance off the Brazilian coast, under long-term contracts from Petrobras, which specified that it should be possible to change chain wheels at sea. Anchor-handling tug/supply (AHTS) vessels must be able to handle the variety of chain sizes employed in subsea mooring operations, and so they carry a range of interchangeable chain wheels which can weigh up to 12 tonnes. “Changing a chain wheel is usually complicated and labour intensive, and any movement of the vessel caused by wind or waves made it unacceptably hazardous, forcing a vessel to return to port and change the wheel alongside,” said Frode Grovan, director of sales and marketing, advanced load handling, at Cargotec. “The trend offshore is to introduce remote-
controlled devices that keep crew members clear of potentially hazardous operations while also improving a vessel’s profitability.
“Cargotec developed the chain wheel manipulator to meet both of these objectives. It is designed in accordance with DNV’s rules for certification of lifting appliances, and can accommodate chain wheels of various sizes, covering all anchor-handling demands likely to be made of any AHTS.”
Frode Grovan, director of sales and marketing, advanced load handling, collects the award
www.osjonline.com
The manipulator is designed to handle wheels for various chain sizes at all stages of wheel changing operations and at every axis for positioning on to and off the winch shaft. The system is installed in a vessel’s winch hangar and is overhead mounted on two traverse beams. The manipulator moves along the beams by means of a hydraulic ‘clamp on’ system, ensuring that it is hydraulically locked onto the beam at all times, even when changing position. A hydraulic jack is fitted at the jib’s arm to aid the transport of chain wheels between storage rack and winch, and the removing/installing of chain wheels off/on to the winch shaft. The manipulator is fully remote-controlled from a portable panel requiring minimal manual labour. The first installation of the chain wheel manipulator was for DOF’s 95m AHTS vessel Skandi Amazonas, which also features a MacGregor offshore crane. “We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award, particularly in the face of strong competition from a shortlist representing the best in innovative design from across the industry,” said Mr Grovan. OSJ
Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference and Awards 2012 I 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40