Offshore Archives - The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS)

MCA approves the safe carriage of a greater number of workers in the offshore wind farm sector

Posted on February 10, 2022March 3, 2022 by News Hound

New rules proposed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to support the UK offshore wind farm industry are coming into force. The change will mean that vessels transporting those who work on offshore wind farms will be able to carry greater numbers of workers while still meeting safety standards.

The legislative changes followed discussions between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the industry looking at how to solve the logistical problems of transporting workers. Vessels that transport workers to offshore wind farms are currently not legally allowed to carry more than 12 people, no matter the size of vessel. Continue reading “MCA approves the safe carriage of a greater number of workers in the offshore wind farm sector”

ABS publishes guidance on reduced manning requirements for safe operations

Posted on July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 by News Hound

Guidance on the technology, systems and regulations needed for minimizing human presence on offshore facilities has been published by ABS. The whitepaper evaluates technology, regulations, systems and design issues. Reduced Manning on Offshore Facilities introduces some of the considerations essential for remotely operating floating facilities from a control center located nearby or onshore. To enable reduced manning without compromising safety, real-time monitoring, control automation and maintenance procedures incorporating remote diagnostics and simulations with minimal human intervention will be required.

“By utilizing new technologies, the number of personnel on board offshore assets can be reduced, minimizing personnel exposure and potentially reducing overall capital and operating costs. Since a significant reduction in manning is a fundamental shift for the industry, it Continue reading “ABS publishes guidance on reduced manning requirements for safe operations”

Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

Posted on May 18, 2021May 21, 2021 by News Hound

DNV has launched a new collaborative research project to develop an automated data processing procedure for verification of detected wind turbine blade defects, with the aim of building trust and generating broader acceptance of automated data processing techniques across the industry and to inform future regulation.

The research project, which is being conducted in partnership with the University of Bristol and Perceptual Robotics, will investigate the automated verification, validation and processing of inspection data, collected by autonomous drones, to improve inspection quality and performance. The project aims to contribute to the development of the UK automated inspection industry.

Continue reading “Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects”

Capsize of liftboat linked to inadequate preload procedure reveals NTSB report

Posted on November 20, 2020November 20, 2020 by News Hound

NTSB issued An accident report has been issues by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the overturning of lift-boat Kristin Faye while working alongside a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, in September 2019. The report identified the company’s inadequate preload procedure as key cause of the incident.

On 8 September 2019, about 1015 local time, the lift-boat Kristin Faye overturned while preparing to conduct work alongside a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, in Main Pass Block 64, about 18 miles east of Venice, Louisiana. All three crew members abandoned the vessel and were rescued. One person suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.

Consequently, an estimated 120 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the water. The vessel was declared a constructive total loss at an estimated $750,000.

Continue reading “Capsize of liftboat linked to inadequate preload procedure reveals NTSB report”

ABS updates Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures guide

Posted on September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 by News Hound

ABS Guide: Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures

ABS has released its updated Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures guide, which incorporates updated approaches for addressing fatigue including new S-N curves and guidance regarding fatigue strength based on fracture mechanics.

Fatigue assessment is a process where the fatigue demand on a structural element is established and compared to the predicted fatigue strength of that element. One way to categorize a fatigue assessment technique is to say that it is based on a direct calculation of fatigue damage or expected fatigue life. Three important methods of assessment are the Simplified Method, the Spectral Method and the Deterministic Method. Alternatively, an indirect fatigue assessment may be performed by the Simplified Method, based on limiting a predicted (probabilistically defined) stress range to be at or below Continue reading “ABS updates Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures guide”

Autonomous Barge Master gangway landing solution set to improve safety for offshore structures

Posted on August 26, 2020August 26, 2020 by News Hound

A new autonomous landing solution for offshore structures, called the Barge Master gangway, is designed to significantly improves both safety and performance.

Through a combination of radar technology, cameras and sensors, Bosch Rexroth’s system automatically attaches the landing from the ship to the required site without the need for manual input. This means that the operation is consistent and reliable, regardless of weather and ocean conditions.

After the automated landing procedure, the Barge Master gangway is held safely in place through a combination of motion compensation and the ship’s dynamic positioning.

“There are a number of benefits to the autonomous landing system,” says Rene Coppens, Business Development Manager for Continue reading “Autonomous Barge Master gangway landing solution set to improve safety for offshore structures”