Portable deployment thanks to Porta Base
COMPANY
DATE
2021
LOCATION
Offshore
PRODUCTs:
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Deploying Remotely Operated Vehicles [ROVs] from offshore oil and gas installations just got considerably easier for repair and maintenance specialists EM&I Alliance – thanks to a REID T DAVIT and PORTA BASE Counterbalance combination.
The background
EM&I provides repair and maintenance services to the oil, gas and renewable energy industries. The company regularly launches subsea ROVs and ancillary equipment from offshore installations and lowers them up to 100ft below the surface to carry out inspection and repair work via an umbilical cord.
The challenge
With an ROV and ancillary equipment weighing around 150kg, EM& typically used temporary scaffolding to provide an anchor point for a lifting and lowering arm. This could be difficult and time consuming to assemble, as well as being heavy and bulky to transport and move around the rig or platform.
The company wanted a flexible lowering solution which was light and portable enough to be transported by helicopter or supply vessel, but which still had the necessary goods WLL to accommodate the weight of the ROV. And, because it would be used in some of the UK’s most extreme environments, it also needed the equipment to be durable and corrosion resistant.
The SOLUTION
EM&I Alliance approached REID Lifting for a cost-effective solution and we recommended a double winched T DAVIT and PORTA BASE Counterbalance combination with a 600kg goods WLL. Supplied by our channel partner LHR Marine UK, this is lightweight and practical, easy to transport and assemble on site and overcomes the problem of how to anchor a T DAVIT when no fixed socket is available.
The T DAVIT has a sheave at both ends of the beam for attaching the winch rope or cable. It has a 1.2m radius and an allowable rotation of 270°, which means it can easily launch and retrieve an ROV from a platform into the sea.
Crucially, the T DAVIT is paired with a REID EN795: 2012 certified lightweight and portable PORTA BASE Counterbalance. With just five components and a simple folding weight basket which takes easy to handle 20kg weights, it can be assembled in just a few minutes with no need for any specialist tools. Integrated swivel locking castors make it easy to manoeuvre around the rig and adjustable feet make it safe to use on uneven surfaces.
Both elements are manufactured by REID from anodised and powder coated aluminium for maximum corrosion resistance.
Our feedback
David Mortlock, Chief Technical Officer, EM&I Alliance:
We have been really impressed by the ease of assembly and usability of the T DAVIT and PORTA BASE Counterbalance combination. We would certainly buy more for similar offshore work.