SECTOR REPORT | SUBSEA & OFFSHORE
ALL UNDER REMOTE CONTROL
Tony Rock rounds up the news from the offshore and subsea sectors, including reporting on a new alliance for remote offshore operations.
L
ifting solutions provider Palfinger has announced a long-term joint development agreement with Optilift, which offers products
for digitised, remote-controlled, and autonomous cargo handling. The two companies will co-develop and
integrate Optilift technology into the control systems of offshore cranes, after Palfinger signed a deal with oil and gas firm Aker BP last year for the delivery of such cranes. The collaboration will continue until the product is market-ready, coinciding with the commencement of production at Aker BP installations in 2027. In addition to the offshore crane market,
the agreement also secures exclusivities for all Palfinger products in the marine industry, where it and Optilift see “a wealth of opportunities”. Combining the technologies of both companies will create synergies to generate further market-leading solutions, says Palfinger. Furthermore, Optilift will
From left to right:Per Harald Kongelf, COO, Aker BP; Andreas Klauser, CEO Palfinger AG and Torbjørn Engedal, CEO Optilift at the official signing ceremony at the Palfinger HQ in Salzburg, Austria.
have the opportunity to explore joint business cases with respect to Palfinger units on land-based applications, thereby
significantly scaling their technology. Palfinger’s contract with Aker BP includes delivering seven cranes to the latter’s platforms, five of which will be fully remote operated from an onshore control room in Stavanger, Norway. One of the main drivers for remote controlled and autonomous cranes is their ability to transport cargo from supply vessels to offshore platforms completely without any human intervention, even in rough weather conditions, with minimal need of maintenance. The first cranes are to be delivered in 2025 to Aker BP’s platforms. The offshore commissioning of the remote operation of the cranes will take place between 2026 and 2028. “Through the cooperation with Palfinger
The Palfinger cranes are designed for use in both the offshore wind and oil and gas industries to reduce risks to offshore personnel and optimise operating costs.
38 | April 2024 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
and Optilift, we are changing the way equipment is transported to our offshore installations,” says Georg Vidnes, SVP Operations at Aker BP. “The ability to
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