Page 8: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2012)

Bibby Offshore is helping to lead the way in saturation diving safety in the North Sea after recently carrying out successful evacuation trials. The trials involved mating a Self Propelled Hy- perbaric Lifeboat (SPHL) from the com-pany?s Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Bibby Sapphire, to a Portable Hyperbaric Reception Facility onshore. The Porta- ble Hyperbaric Reception Facility, built by Mimiar, is a shore based point that allows saturation divers to be transferred from a SPHL to a more comfortable living area, pre-set at the correct atmo- spheric level, where they can continue to decompress safely. It also allows a medic or doctor to be in situ, capable of treating any divers that may require further medi- cal attention.?Bibby Offshore is determined to en- sure that we have the best possible facili- ties for dealing with any diving emergen- cies,? said Barry Porter, Global Diving Ops Manager, Bibby Offshore. ?The suc- cess of the trial clearly shows our com- mitment to ensuring that, not only are we investing in state of the art equipment, but more importantly, document the pro- cesses and procedures we would follow in an emergency as proven.? The trials have been commended by diving authorities from two major global oil and gas operators. Derek Beddows, BP global diving tech- nical authority, was invited by Bibby to the trials. He said: ?It is very encourag- ing to see Bibby Offshore now moving forward positively with this very impor- tant safety initiative that would be essen- tial to the preservation of life in the event that divers ever had to be evacuated from saturation on a vessel in distress.? ?It is also very satisfying to note that BP?s own Policy Statement 002,?Effec- tive Hyperbaric Evacuation, SPHL Tran- sit and Diver Reception Facilities?, is now being widely recognised and com- plied with across the Industry after little more than a year since its release.?Going forward, I remain positive that all of our North Sea and Global Satura-tion Diving Contractors shall also con- sider the bene ts of such trials between their own SPHL?s and selected Hyper- baric Reception Facilities which shall provide us with the con dence that in the event of a hyperbaric emergency, the sys- tems and facilities will both be in place and proven to be capable of giving the evacuated divers the very best chance of survival? Bibby Offshore has grown from 10 em- ployees in 2003 to 600 today, with of c-es in Aberdeen, Singapore and Trinidad. Bibby Offshore Receives Praise After Hyperbaric Rescue Trials h-to g-ng or-n-nt m at c-n-is m-le at a-n-en er-all he s-ce he of m-c-d.QinetiQ?s New Hyperbaric Trials Unit QinetiQ re-commissioned its Hyperbaric Trials Unit (HTU) following an extensive re Þ t. The HTU joins an array of specialist equipment that forms the recent- ly opened Diving and Hyperbaric Test Center based in Haslar, Portsmouth. The HTU is a versa- tile, two compartment chamber that can be used for the testing and evaluation of undersea and hyperbaric systems. It will spe- ciÞ cally enable the assessment of submarine escape and diving systems and components. Certi Þ ed to test equipment to 1500m, it has a unique capa- bility to re-create the actual pressure pro Þ les experienced underwater, completely indepen- dent of the performance of the components under test. The HTU delivers a powerful and proven capability that can be applied in the defense industry and in commercial sectors such as the offshore oil and gas industry. ?The Hyperbaric Trials Unit deliv- ers substantial cost savings to submarine operators and diving/ escape equipment suppliers by using a controlled environment to test complete systems and individual components prior to conducting essential, but expensive, sea trials. The HTU is capable of testing the full func- tionality of a remote underwater operating vehicle and is now available for use by both defence and commercial customers,? said Andy Dinsdale, Head of Maritime Life Support, QinetiQ. News Portable Hyperbaric Reception Facility (HRF) and Self Propelled Hy- perbaric Lifeboat (SPHL). September 20128 MTRMTR #7 (1-17).indd 8MTR #7 (1-17).indd 89/10/2012 2:53:05 PM9/10/2012 2:53:05 PM