Offshore wind kudos for DuroWipers – Marine Windscreen Wipers

Wednesday, 3rd February 2021

A British crew transfer vessel operator has kitted out its latest CTV with DuroWiper Pantographs commercial marine windscreen wipers in order to benefit from their ease of installation and reduced maintenance.

Manor Renewable Energy Ltd took delivery of the Manor Endurance offshore support vessel in September and since then its six Class 90 pantograph units (three front and three rear) have been put to the test at Scottish Power’s East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm.

“Our unique selling point as a CTV operator is that we provide accommodation for the crew 24/7 on the wind farm without the need for a mothership,” said Michael James, Marine Superintendent at Manor Renewable Energy Ltd.

“So every part of the vessel, including the equipment, has to stand up to being based offshore. We have had no problems with the DuroWiper pantographs. They were the right product for us, we could mount them externally, there is a washer system integrated into the arm and they are easy to install. They ticked all the right boxes.”

Lessons learnt

Mr James explained that they had learnt lessons from the build of Manor Endurance’s sister vessel, Manor Venture, back in 2017.

Both vessels were built over a year at the Manor Marine shipyard in Portland, Dorset. They both embrace the use of cutting-edge technology, whilst maximising crew accommodation, deck space and cargo carrying capacity. But they have been kitted out differently. This, according to Mr James, is because valuable lessons were learned from the build and kit out of the first vessel, including what was required from the wiper systems.

“The Manor Venture has internally fitted wiper systems which meant that we had to fabricate hosing inside the vessel to contain the systems which involved a lot of time and effort. The wiper systems had no integral wash system and we have had to replace the wiper panels more than once since installation,” he said. “DuroWiper pantographs on the new vessel have solved these issues.”

With the East Anglia ONE contract now coming to an end, Manor Endurance will head off to work at another windfarm project in early 2021.

Solid reputation

Manor Renewable Energy Ltd has some new builds coming up in 2021/22 and Mr James said that DuroWiper pantographs would definitely be considered for future use. This is provided that they perform well at Manor Endurance’s service next year.

DuroWipers offers extended and lifetime warranties for its wiper systems which both the RNLI and the UK Royal Navy have previously taken advantage of. The Class 90 utilises the 80Nm Bosch motor with a considerably smaller transfer box than the Class 80, for applications where space is limited.

DuroWipers has an impressive client list. The company is probably best known for equipping all RNLI Shannon lifeboats since 2012.

Marine Windscreen Wipers by DuroWipers

High-performance marine windscreen wipers are indispensable components for boats and ships, particularly in adverse sea conditions. Engineered with advanced technology and durable materials, these wipers play a pivotal role in maintaining clear visibility for marine vessels, contributing significantly to safety and operational efficiency.

In heavy sea conditions, vessels often encounter challenges like torrential rain, sea spray, and turbulent waves that can obstruct visibility. High-performance marine windscreen wipers efficiently sweep away water, salt residue, and debris, ensuring that the captain and crew can navigate with a clear line of sight. This is crucial for avoiding collisions, navigating through crowded waters, and responding promptly to changing maritime conditions.

These wipers are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment, including exposure to corrosive saltwater and extreme weather conditions. Equipped with features such as adjustable speeds, multiple blade options, and robust construction, they ensure reliable performance even in the most demanding circumstances. The durability and functionality of high-performance marine wipers enhance the overall safety and effectiveness of maritime operations, making them an essential component for seafaring vessels, especially when confronting the challenges posed by heavy sea conditions.

SIC Marking UK now have Record working dimensions with the new XXL-Box laser marking enclosure

Wednesday, 3rd February 2021

“After the huge success of the L-BOX and XL-BOX, our compact marking stations, we have been asked on numerous occasions to offer a larger workspace in order to be able to mark large parts. “These are the words of Eric B. Marketing and Sales Director at SIC MARKING, world leader in industrial traceability, to justify the launch of the new XXL-BOX Laser Marking Station.

Available in 3 basic sizes at a very competitive price, the XXL-BOX perfectly complements SIC MARKING’s laser workstation wide range of products , which makes it possible to meet all customer requirements in terms of cabinet size.

As its name indicates, the new XXL-BOX station offers record working dimensions (up to 520 mm high) as well as great modularity thanks to its 3 standard models (800, 1200 and 1600 mm wide) and its numerous accessories. The strength of this new product also lies in its ability to adapt perfectly to different customer requirements, illustrating SIC MARKING’s extensive know-how in the realisation of tailor-made solutions:

“The XXL-BOX is ideally suited for the classic use of its large working volume, but also enables the project manager at SIC MARKING to offer tailor-made solutions for more complex large-volume marking applications. As Project Manager, Nicolas E. highlights the flexibility of this new product through a large number of accessories. “Automatic three-dimensional axis, automatic loading system, loading drawer or turntable are just a few examples of the applications proposed by our technical teams to meet our customers’ needs”.

Requested by a large number of customers, the new XXL-Box Laser Marking Station has met great success with ETIs and large companies manufacturing large parts or sub-assemblies such as shafts, valve or pump bodies, crankcase, exhaust components but also bodywork sub-assemblies. It is not surprising to find it in the sectors in which SIC MARKING is already active: Automotive, Aeronautics, Industrial Vehicles, Hydraulics, Oil & Gas…

As a result, the international French group had the opportunity to prove all the qualities of its new product by taking up the challenge offered by ZF, a major German automotive supplier. The company wanted to mark a Datamatrix code on gearbox prototypes. The solution provided was an XXL-BOX laser marking station, with a 5-axis laser that made it possible to achieve a marking window of 900 x 500 x 500 mm. The project was the result of technical and commercial cooperation between the headquarters and SIC MARKING GMBH (the group’s German subsidiary) and highlighted the great adaptability of this new product to customised requests.

Beast meets giant: Jumbo Kinetic Transports 1435-tonne Shiploader

Friday, 29th January 2021

Jumbo Shipping, shipbuilders, raised the bar with the recent shipment of a 1435t shiploader, measuring 135 x 25 x 43 metres, from Vietnam to Canada for the machine’s manufacturer Tenova.

After almost two years of engineering, the Jumbo Shipping team saw their hard work come to life when the Jumbo Kinetic was captured on film lifting and shipping this gigantic 1435t shiploader from Phu My Port, Vietnam to Vancouver, Canada.

Heavy Lifting
Having conducted a final loading simulation, the time had come for the engineers to put MV Jumbo Kinetic, a K-class vessel with 3,000t dual lifting capacity, to the real test by loading this super-heavy shiploader onboard.

Lift On
Based on the size of the unit and the length of its boom, loading this shiploader at Phu My Port, Vietnam was a formidable task, but the dual lift went without a hitch. With stage one of the lifting operation complete, the next step was to temporarily suspend the unit above the deck so that the boom could be retracted to change the centre of gravity position. This enabled the vessel’s team to re-rig and then perform a single lift to shift the shiploader to its final stowage position where it could be secured for the sea voyage to Vancouver.

This video shows the spectacular sight of the Jumbo Kinetic arriving in Vancouver with the shiploader stowed on deck as well as the masterful loading and discharge operations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bp0KDPqnwk

Lift Off
After a 20 day ocean voyage the Jumbo Kinetic arrived safe and sound at the Neptune terminal in Vancouver and discharge operations got underway. If the engineering work at Phu My Port was not already impressive enough, our client raised the bar even further for the offloading operations with the team needing to discharge the shiploader while it was half suspended over the water.

The shiploader was then steadily manoeuvred onto the pivot point at the quayside and onto the semi-circle shaped rails above the water. Now in its final position at the Neptune Bulk Terminals in North Vancouver, this shiploader is reshaping the landscape of the port.

Thanks to strong team work and cooperation between all parties involved, a journey of two years has come to a successful completion.

New berth for Dunmore East RNLIs all-weather lifeboat from Inland and Coastal Marina Systems

Thursday, 28th January 2021

Working for the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine, Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre and liaising closely with the RNLI, Inland and Coastal Marina Systems (ICMS) has designed, manufactured and installed a new berth mooring system for Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat.

Installed in December 2020, the new berthing facility has been built to service the RNLI as well as provide safe and secure access ashore for various users, including cruise ship passengers.

The shared 27m long x 7m wide steel tubular pontoon is a new product from ICMS, employing waterproofing and paint system technologies not previously used on its other projects. Moored on piles, it has a 32m access gangway and is surfaced with durable Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) decking with excellent anti-slip properties, offering all users confident footing on a stable platform.

“Weighing in at 90 tonnes, we fabricated the tubular pontoon in six pieces to make it less challenging to manoeuvre,” says Oliver Shortall, Managing Director at ICMS. “We then joined the pieces together in the dry dock at New Ross Boat Yard in Co. Wexford prior to floating the massive structure and towing it to its new home at Dunmore East.”

Cormac O Donoghue from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine comments: “Working closely with us to fully understand the brief and what needed to be achieved, Inland and Coastal developed a bespoke solution catering for all stakeholders.

“The RNLI now has somewhere secure for its crew to launch from, allowing them to provide a safe environment for anyone out on the water in the area, while the cruise ship passengers can easily access the bustling fishing village, increasing footfall to local businesses during the tourist season.”

To find out more about Inland and Coastal’s pontoon ranges and unique decking options visit https://inlandandcoastal.com or email sales@inlandandcoastal.com

Steam Tug Kerne Golden Jubilee Appeal 2021

Tuesday, 26th January 2021

In 1971 a group of like-minded friends in their early 20s, feeling a little disillusioned with the early railway steam preservation projects locally, hatched the idea of preserving something steam powered that wouldn’t be confined by the regulations of the railways. Their endeavours brought them to the, then recently, retired steam tug, Kerne.

The vessel was originally called Viking and was built in Montrose, Scotland, in 1913. She was renamed Terrier and went immediately into Admiralty service at Chatham dockyard, serving there during both World Wars and throughout the interwar period. Indeed, it is believed she is the only First World War Royal Naval vessel to survive and still be in operation.

Peacetime saw her renamed for the third time when she was given her current name, Kerne upon being sold in the late 1940s for commercial service, initially on the Medway and then later, from 1948, on the Mersey.

By 1971, Kerne had been retired and was quietly waiting for the breaker’s torch when, at the eleventh hour, she met the group that was to become her salvation.

The friends formed themselves into the North Western Steamship Company. Mostly from shipping and engineering backgrounds, they were aware of the pitfalls of trying to look after a sea-going vessel over half a century old but set about the task with pragmatism and optimism.

Over the years, Kerne and her owners have had their fair share of ups and downs. High points have included being present in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Review of Shipping on the Mersey in 1977 and being awarded the Queen’s Award for Volunteer Service in 2018.

The group formed a charity, The Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society, in 2008 and it is through that organisation, its members and friends, that principally the same group of people continue to maintain and operate Kerne in the coastal and inland waterways of the North West of England.

The cost of heritage preservation, however, is considerable and is ever increasing. The group is faced with many expenses that have grown considerably over the time of its ownership and some that weren’t even a consideration when the group was originally formed.

As is to be expected with a vessel that is 108 years old, there is a constant battle with wear and tear, especially from corrosion caused by the salt-water environment in which she spends most of her time. Over the years of ownership, as well as keeping pace with the requirements of regular regulatory inspections and repairs, much has been done to improve the vessel. Most of the deck and a large proportion of the hull have been replaced, as have internal supports and frames that had reached the end of their life. The engine, a three cylinder triple expansion steam engine, has been thoroughly overhauled and the coal fired boiler, built by the Admiralty in 1935, is currently undergoing a heavy maintenance programme, a large part of which entails replacement of all the stay tubes; heavy work which is being carried out by a small band of dedicated volunteers. This will be completed in 2021.
The forward cabin, a beautiful example lined in English Oak with period fittings, has been restored to original condition and the wheelhouse has been replaced with a brand new, hand-crafted hardwood example.

The vessel has been regularly drydocked and is now in better condition than at any time since her purchase 50 years ago.

These projects alone, whilst contributing considerably towards ensuring the long term survival of the vessel, have not been cheap. The endeavours of this year alone have cost in the region of £40,000. A considerable sum for a small organisation to find. Combined with this, the current Covid-19 pandemic has deprived us of any of our usual exposure at festivals, museums and events that would normally have generated donations from the general public and has also meant the loss of a lucrative filming contract.

For its efforts, the group has been granted several awards over the years:

British Coal, Steam Heritage Award. The Transport Trust Restoration Award.National Historic Ships U.K.

Young Volunteer of the Year Award (for R. Dibnah)
Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service (the equivalent of an MBE awarded to a group of volunteers).

This year will see a continuous 50 years of owing, running and maintaining Kerne and to mark it, the Preservation Society is launching its Golden Jubilee Appeal.

The aim is to raise £10,000 over the year that will aid completion of the current projects and provide a financial foundation to help Kerne continue to give great pleasure to many as she steams around the North West, presenting both an elegant and rare (if not unique) example from a bygone age and the compelling power of steam.

Any donations will be gratefully received via the appeal pages on our website – www.tugkerne.co.uk, by Facebook, by cheque (payable to The Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society and sent to STKPS Treasurer, Bankside House, Haugh Road, Todmorden, Lancs, OL14 6BU) or by arrangement with the treasurer: treasurer@tugkerne.co.uk

Material Handling Equipment Store Launches

Tuesday, 26th January 2021

A new USA material handling Fade equipment store has gone live, offering free shipping on all products.

Headquartered in South Carolina, Fade Equipment Store puts lifting, material handling, safety and load monitoring products a click away from end users in warehouses, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, renewables, commercial and other markets. Solutions that can be used by anybody but feature cutting-edge design and state-of-the-art technology are drop-shipped to customers.

The new business, powered by online equipment directory findadistributor.com, is led by Jeff Miller, general manager, while serial industry entrepreneur David Ayling is president. A consortium of ecommerce, finance and marketing professionals complete the team.

Miller said: “This is the most innovative material handling ecommerce concept to hit the market. It’s one thing to deliver an online platform where users can visit, click and order, but another to present a broad portfolio of products each of which is the standout technology or solution in its sector. Fade Equipment Store is a combination of easy-to-order and best-in-class.”

The store offers breadth of product but every item is provided by premium suppliers with stock held in the USA for quick delivery direct from the manufacturer. Miller’s specialist team will continually monitor the relevant markets and trends, and maintain constant dialog with industry contacts, to ensure that the site serves as a one-stop-shop for material handling and safety equipment users. Fade Equipment Store will also be present at trade shows and industry events to guarantee customers constant catalog refinement.

The evolution of ecommerce continued at a steady speed until the outbreak of Covid-19, when online purchases increased at an exponential rate, even apace with the virus itself. Reality is, there are less sales representatives traveling the USA visiting customers and it is more incumbent on a buyer to source online and buy direct. Fade Equipment Store is perfectly positioned to move in that direction of travel, indeed, to lead it.

Miller, who has held general management positions with start-ups and established companies of all sizes, said: “We are poised for rapid growth and prepared for all eventualities. Our customer base can reach out to us if there are any issues with availability or condition of product.”

Leading manufacturers that have listed product on the store include The Crosby Group (lifting and rigging hardware), Crosby | Straightpoint (load monitoring technology), Crosby | Accolift (chain and lever hoists), Oz Lifting (davit cranes and hoists), Caldwell (overhead lifting and rigging gear), SpaceGuard, A-Safe (both protective guarding products), P&I Supply (tool drop prevention solutions), and Kroy Sign Systems (signs and way-finding).

Begin a lifting, material handling, safety or load monitoring product purchase today at fadequipmentstore.com.

FTR Continues Growth in 2020 Despite Global Pandemic

Monday, 25th January 2021

Fulkrum Technical Resources (FTR), a global provider of technical personnel specialising in QA/QC, inspection and vendor surveillance services to the energy industry, has reported a successful 2020, resulting in year-on-year growth of more than 50%.

Operating in four key regions – the Americas, Europe and Africa, APAC and the Middle East – FTR has seen significant growth in each region, with revenues exceeding forecasted figures.

Since forming in 2017, FTR’s Asia Pacific entity has continued increasing activity with a range of local and global companies. The region saw a 137% increase in turnover in 2020 and has built a solid foundation to continue this trend in 2021.

The company formally entered the Middle East market in 2017, building a solid network in the region including offices located in both Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. A successful year has seen the turnover in the region grow by 138% during 2020 and an expansion of the company’s footprint via larger office space and further recruitment in Abu Dhabi.

Following significant contract wins in both Europe and Africa, Fulkrum’s UK-based business increased by 61% over the last year. The company has continued its expansion into Africa, with a dedicated base in Mozambique and ongoing focus on local employment in the region.

Starting the year with eight operating bases around the world, FTR forged ahead with expansion plans into Central and South America, including several key appointments and the establishment of a dedicated office in Brazil.

Owen Gibbons, Commercial Director at FTR, commented: “Our global team has surpassed expectations in exceeding our budget for 2020, particularly in a time that has been challenging for all.

“We have continued to work closely with our clients, and it’s clear that our care and commitment has allowed us to build on existing relationships, as well as foster new ones throughout the year. We’re grateful to both our clients and our team for their continued resilience through what has been a difficult time for many.”

Fulkrum Technical Resources has set in place the foundations for a positive 2021 and continues to look at diversifying the company’s service offering into new territories and industries.

Crosby Group introduces world’s first high fatigue life shackle

Friday, 22nd January 2021

The Crosby Group proudly introduces the world’s first improved high fatigue life shackle to end-users in the offshore mooring sector.

The Crosby Group has pioneered a product innovation in the offshore mooring markets with the introduction of the HFL Kenter, a new high fatigue life shackle, under the Crosby Feubo brand. The Crosby Group is a global leader and pioneer in offshore mooring components for the oil and gas and wind energy markets strengthened by the recent acquisition of Feubo in early 2020.

The new HFL Kenter shackle showcases design improvements on the popular Crosby Feubo NDur Link, an accessory used for temporary and mobile mooring applications such as rigging and anchoring offshore platforms or vessels. The HFL therefore represents the latest state-of-the-art evolution of the Kenter shackle concept, which is over 100 years old.

Oliver Feuerstein, Global Director of Mooring at The Crosby Group, explains the benefits; “The fatigue life is superior, and it can connect to a variety of stud link anchor chain or other mooring accessories such as sockets and swivels. This feature separates the Crosby Feubo solution from any other worldwide and was accomplished by making it from Grade 6 steel. A logical evolution from the Grade 4 Trident Slim and Grade 5 Raptor Crosby Feubo concepts.”

“The new Kenter Connection is DNV-GL type approved and features the unique “Fastlock” system – proven to reduce project downtime and mitigate risk from conventional assembly/disassembly methods”, Oliver says.

The Crosby Group provides connectors for anchors, chains, wire rope, a range of synthetics, and a variety of other components that are utilized in many applications by oil and gas and wind energy professionals.

Oliver continues: “As many end-users and distributors of lifting and rigging gear will recognize, the HFL Kenter is a much better solution to alternative shackles, many of which are based on a Grade 4 concept that was launched in the 1980s.”

Extensive R&D Paid Off

The importance of the experts in the R&D team was reaffirmed by the HFL launch.

“The R&D on this product has been the most extensive in the Crosby Feubo’s history, from design, simulation, prototyping, to fatigue and break testing”, Oliver explains.

The HFL Kenter will be stocked in all key markets worldwide and Feuerstein noted that selling the product has gone faster than anticipated. “This says to us,” he explained, “That clients do not compromise on quality and safety; they want to source the best solution available to prevent failures in service that can result in millions of dollars of damage. We encourage clients to inspect equipment between jobs. With the HFL Kenter, our customers will have even longer fatigue life and even less retirements than the Ndur, which already proved incredibly durable.”

Looking ahead

Feuerstein described the current mood among his customer base as “carefully optimistic”. He added: “The sentiment in the industry has been suffering by the global pandemic and a negative oil price. What we hear from our clients is that in 2022, oil and gas should be back on track and increased demand on the renewable energy side. Offshore wind is growing rapidly in Europe and is one of our key markets. We will continue to develop and optimize our products and a number of new innovations will hit the market in 2021.”

Vulcan Mobilises Cable Laying Offshore

Thursday, 21st January 2021

Vulcan Offshore Ltd. has put cable lay vessel mobilisation at the centre of its multifaceted offshore service offering.

Southampton, UK-based Vulcan is a specialist in fabrication, welding and computer numerical control (CNC) machining for the marine and subsea industries. It principally works for cable lay companies that own or charter vessels for laying offshore wind farm or fibre optic cables for the telecommunications industry.

When a vessel, barge, or workboat prepares for an upcoming project, Vulcan’s clients typically have to modify and fit out the deck with winches, launch and recovery systems (LARs), cable engines, steps, ladders, and access platforms, etc. As the vessels perform different functions depending on the job, equipment needs to be fabricated or welded to the deck of the ship.

Chris Scrutton, managing director at Vulcan, said: “We offer a comprehensive welding and fabrication service, which can be delivered in our workshop, on- and offshore. It’s proved to be a differentiator that we’re ideally located [near the Southampton port] on the south coast and we have personnel skilled in MMA [manual metal arc], MIG [metal inert gas], and TIG [tungsten inert gas] welding; we also have welders who are CSWIP 3.2 certified.”

As Scrutton explained, this breadth of welding expertise is important because of the varied requirements within the industry. For example, MMA or MIG welding might be used onsite, while TIG is specifically related to stainless steel, most commonly in the Vulcan workshop. Non-destructive testing (NDT) via magnetic particle inspection (MPI) or dye penetration is also integral to many scopes of work.

He added: “The sector is apparently buoyant as we move through 2021 and we are keen to align ourselves with continued activity in the renewable energy sector, especially around wind farm installation. Meanwhile, as internet usage continues to grow, we have a long-term role to play in fibre optic cable laying.”

Valeport introduces new SWiFT CTD profiler

Tuesday, 19th January 2021

Designed with the intention of a seamless workflow, the new SWiFT CTD is the next generation of Valeport’s popular SWiFT profiler range and delivers enhanced accuracy and versatility for those requiring CTD measurements.

The SWiFT CTD profiler from Valeport, a leading oceanographic and hydrographic instrumentation manufacturer, provides survey-grade sensor technology coupled with the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable battery and an integral GPS module to geo-locate each profile.

Using Valeport’s world-leading high accuracy sensor technology to combine sensors for multiple profiles in a single drop, the SWiFT CTD features a new fast response temperature probe and operates down to 500m as standard, delivering directly measured Conductivity, Temperature and Depth.

In addition to the directly measured CTD, computed Salinity, Density and Sound Velocity is calculated using the UNESCO international standard algorithm and the Chen and Millero equation. Data can be quickly and easily downloaded wirelessly, and uses Valeport’s new Ocean software for iOS, Android and PC platforms. Data can be instantly shared in industry standard data formats.

Ease of use is at the heart of the SWiFT range and the new SWiFT CTD not only makes any problematic battery changes a thing of the past and delivers fully automated data transfer with no user input required, it also features Valeport’s signature SWiFT magnetic switch ring. The switch ring is easy to operate even with cold hands, it simply turns through 90 degrees and reassuringly clicks into position. The end cap features user-friendly LED status indications for GPS, battery and communications.

With an operational battery life of up to five days and the convenience of charge via USB, the SWiFT CTD is intended for offshore, coastal, harbour and inland environmental and hydrographic survey use.

“Developed for those who need precise CTD data for scientific applications, this is the first time that measured CTD has been available with all the benefits of our SWiFT profiler; ease of use, Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable battery and GPS. The new SWiFT CTD delivers the highest quality CTD profiles in a compact, robust and portable package.” commented Guy Frankland, Valeport head of marketing.

Constructed from titanium to provide unmatched durability, the CTD sensors are housed in a strong acetal sensor guard. An optional deployment cage is also available to bolt onto the instrument to help get the SWiFT CTD to depth in fast flowing currents.

The new SWiFT CTD is now available to order. For more information contact: sales@valeport.co.uk www.valeport.co.uk

Author: CGTeam

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