Page 55: of Marine News Magazine (November 2024)

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Tech cilities, Gwynne said. holders and operators to take respon- vitec striving towards this goal.”

The Gauntlet’s inventor, Andrew sibility to make their work areas safe. As assets continue to age and risks

Mackay, CEO, In? nity Oil? eld Ser- “The Gauntlet offers a step change escalate, the Gauntlet represents not vices Ltd., explained that the system’s in safety controls,” Gwynne empha- just a solution but a pivotal advance- origins are rooted in a clear industry sized, highlighting its certi? cation ment in ensuring safer working envi- need. “There was a de? nite demand and rigorous testing in collaboration ronments offshore.

from clients in the North Sea, partic- with Lloyd’s Register. This approval “The risk of actuator failure will ularly Total and Shell,” Mackay said, ensures that operators now have a re- increase as assets age, increasing the recalling incidents and near-misses liable solution to effectively manage risk to lives and equipment. Cur- that highlighted the vulnerabilities of and mitigate the risks associated with rently, the Gauntlet is the only ap- existing safety measures. Traditional actuator failures. proved safety solution to address the methods like steel clamps or scaffold- Since its introduction, the Gaunt- risk. And as such, forms a key part of ing boards proved inadequate in con- let has received positive feedback and our strategy for safety enhancement taining the potential hazards posed adoption by major and supermajor in the industry,” Montgomery said.

by actuator failures, necessitating a operators across the U.K. and North more robust solution, he said. Sea. Gwynne noted, “There’s been

The issue of valve actuator failures, signi? cant implementation of the predominantly caused by internal Gauntlet system, which has over- corrosion in aging equipment, poses a night provided immediate resolution signi? cant challenge, Mackay empha- to what would be a considerable haz- sized. “We’ve encountered hundreds ard and risk to personnel and plant.” of actuators in a degraded state,” he This widespread acceptance under- said, noting internal corrosion can scores its role as a critical component be nearly impossible to detect with- in safeguarding offshore operations.

out dismantling the actuators. With David Montgomery, Head of Sales offshore assets often exceeding three UK, Survitec, said the Gauntlet decades in service, the prevalence of aligns with the company’s broader degraded actuators underscores the strategy for safety enhancement. Sur- critical need for proactive safety mea- vitec’s existing lineup of safety solu- sures like the Gauntlet. tions includes lifeboats, life rafts, ma- “It’s very hard to predict when [a rine evacuation systems, ? re systems, failure’s] going to happen and how life jackets, immersion suits, etc. quickly it’s going to happen. [The “Survitec has been providing safety

Gauntlet] adds a layer of safety, par- solutions to protect lives and reduce ticularly for personnel that are not risk for well over 100 years. We’ve al- aware, working in the area, working ways been at the forefront of safety on other items,” Mackay said. innovation, and take immense pride

Gwynne elaborated on the current in being a global leader for critical safety protocols and the Gauntlet’s safety equipment and survival solu- impact on industry standards. He tions,” Montgomery said. “It is cru- said safety protocols over these par- cial that the working environment is ticular issues are ambiguous, noting as safe and risk-free as humanly pos- that authorities have advised duty sible, and the Gauntlet supports Sur- www.marinelink.com MN 55|