Invaluable Contribution
Offshore Solutions B.V. (OSBV), market leader in the invention, development, manufacture and safe operation of the industry’s most advanced marine access systems, has been commended by Shell ONEgas for its increased efforts during the recent aviation shut down. With helicopter flights in the Southern North Sea grounded for several days at a time due to the Icelandic ash cloud, Offshore Solution’s Offshore Access System (OAS), mounted onboard the Smit Kamara, has successfully transferred more than 180 additional personnel allowing the ONEgas project to remain fully operational.
As a result of this, Offshore Solutions has reported a significant increase in the number of enquiries for its OAS, with operators recognising the benefits of alternative transfer methods.
Ian Sadler, general manager of Offshore Solutions comments: “We were delighted to get such positive feedback from the ONEgas team. The Smit Kamara and OAS have consistently performed over the last eighteen months with an untarnished safety record, so this is a great endorsement to all those involved.”
“Recent events have brought the issue of personnel transfer to the forefront and as such we have witnessed an increase in enquiries for the OAS. It is apparent that the periods of aviation shut down caused by the Icelandic ash cloud have led to industry-wide reflection as to the benefits of alternative transfer. We often receive more enquiries during prolonged periods of fog but the current level of interest has been unprecedented.”
Weighing approximately 24 tonnes, the OAS is a heave compensated telescopic gangway, enabling the safe transfer of personnel from a vessel to an offshore installation (wind turbine, oil or gas platform) designed to operate in 2.5 m Hs (significant wave height) sea states.
Mounted on board the Smit Kamara, the OAS has been operational in the Southern North Sea for more than four years completing in excess of 9,000 safe connections without any LTIs in the last year alone.