Reflex Marine to develop innovative offshore access system

Reflex Marine, a world leading safe offshore personnel transfer company is developing a new personnel access concept for the offshore wind and traditional energy industries, the SEA-SPIDER.

Crew welfare is at the forefront of the innovation, which will utilise winch based access – the safest and most established method for marine access to offshore structures. This offers an alternative to current access methods, such as, butting a vessel against the turbine structures and crews stepping onto a ladder.

The company has already received strong interest around SEA-SPIDER from operators in Europe.

CEO, Philip Strong commented:

“It is essential that we continue to develop flexible and weather capable transfer solutions to meet the challenges of further offshore wind farm developments. We feel strongly that close collaboration with vessel designers, vessel operators and lifting specialists will allow us to develop improved practices, not only in the wind energy sector but wherever offshore personnel transfers are needed.

“It’s an exciting time for us as we continue to innovate and SEA-SPIDER follows the unveiling of our completed FROG-XT range for the first time at Offshore Europe 2015, designed for offshore operations, extreme performance and safety.”

Winch based access will enable operators to use much of the current fleet and equipment already in the field. In the absence of a dedicated crane on the installation, a bespoke hoisting system can be retrofitted which allows the personnel transfer capsule to be safely hoisted.

Eliminating risk

At the core of the system is a FROG-XT1, a single person transfer device. The FROG-XT1 has been designed using Reflex Marine’s proven methodology and will form part of the FROG-XT product range. Options to transfer maintenance teams in groups can also be achieved using higher capacity Reflex Marine capsules.

Offshore wind farms require year round access for essential inspection and maintenance tasks. Lack of safe access due to challenging weather conditions is a major contributor to turbine down-time and lost revenue, particularly in seasonally high winds; when faults are most likely, and wind yield is greatest.The SEA-SPIDER aims to address these challenges and to eliminate the major risks associated with personnel transfer.

Reflex Marine, established over 20 years ago, now has capsules in over 50 countries encompassing every major region for offshore operations. The company is best known for its personnel transfer device, the FROG, and its commitment to improving industry safety standards.

With its current range of products and expertise Reflex Marine is already supporting safe personnel transfers during the construction phase of offshore wind farms. The company is now determined to help raise safety standards by providing additional safe solutions for maintenance access to offshore wind farms.

Reflex Marine will be exhibiting the SEA-SPIDER concept at the Developing and Operating Further Offshore Wind Farms event in London on the 21st and 22nd of October 2015. Philip Strong will be presenting, ‘Resolving the Issue of Safe Access in More Demanding Weather Conditions’ on day one.

If you are interested in collaborating or finding out more about the project, please contact Reflex Marine by emailing robin.proctor@reflexmarine.com or calling +44 (0)1872 321155.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/19102015/relex-marine-developing-offshore-access-system/