Page 94: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2016)

DECK MACHINERY

Roping in a

Market “We can now go to any depth you like,” says Rolls-

Royce senior VP for deck machinery, mooring and anchor-handlers, Ottar Antonsen, about a ? ber- rope crane introduced in August 2016 with obvious bene? ts for deepwater lifts and handling. Similar to wire, weightless (in water) rope opens for vessel and crane retro? ts that target offshore costs and new markets. A second rope crane design release in a year from a major deck machinery maker comes 12 months before the start of an anticipated order boom for subsea,

Rope revolution: the Rolls-Royce rope crane’s components. and, possiby, one of the busiest eras yet seen for lift activity offshore.

(Illustration: handout)

BY WILLIAM STOICHEVSKI omewhat surprisingly, Antonsen industry interest. ommended Practice RP H201 in 2014. er vessels can be used for subsea lifts says Rolls-Royce has cooper- VARD, a ship designer and builder, Some have received research council while larger, high-spec offshore vessels ated with competitors in early boasts its own unique deck-machinery funds to produce safe rope cranes. Why can do lighter work in between bigger

Sstage research programs on deck and automation brand in Sea Q, plus a now, if the braided-rope technology jobs. machinery engieering dilemnas. Telling- stake in Seaonics, maker of an electronic pioneered by 2010 Rolls-Royce acquisi- Antonsen refers to a six-year module- ly, too, while rival NOV introduced the crane control system and the owner of a tion, ODIM, has been around for years handling study AKOFS Offshore per-

Trident ? ber-rope crane aboard a VARD software company. So, several machin- and years? Well, rigs are in disfavor for formed for Petrobras that showed the vessel design at Nor-Shipping 2015, ery makers who manufacture in Norway their high offshore rates, so all —includ- Skandi Santos subsea equipment support

Rolls-Royce chose ONS 2016 in Stavan- have worked together on a Joint Industry ing the subsea equipment makers—have vessel, or SESV, had performed 116 X- ger for its rope-crane unveiling. Neither, Project lead by DNV GL to harness the committed to helping ships do more. The mas tree operations with a rope-capable it is understood, have a ship-owning cus- subsea lift experience of oil companies, hope with the Rolls-Royce crane, which Rolls-Royce Cable Traction Control tomer yet, although there’s documented contractors and vendors. It lead to Rec- appears slighter than some, is that small- Unit, or CTCU, between 2010, the year 94 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2016

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