Martek Gas Detection Contract
UK-based Martek Marine has signed a breakthrough contract with the Canadian Navy. The deal will see Martek supply twelve MM2000 marine gas detection systems, with hydrogen sulphide capability, to the Canadian Navy’s fleet of Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates based in Victoria, British Columbia, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is the first contract that Martek has secured with the Canadian Navy.
The contract was awarded by Canada’s Department of National Defence, as a result of Martek’s ability to satisfy a number of demanding technical and commercial criteria. This included long term stability, ease of maintenance, mean time between failure (MTBF) performance, and the costs of the systems and their installation. Martek staff supported by certified engineers will carry out the commissioning of the MM2000 hardware onboard the 12 Canadian Navy vessels over the coming year. In addition, Martek will be supplying a full spare parts and technical support package for the equipment. To date the system has been installed on over 200 tankers, to protect crews against hydrogen sulfide from sulphur rich crude oil, and patrol vessels for the Sultanate of Oman navy.
Steve Coulson, Business Development Director, Martek Marine, said: “This is an important order for us as it demonstrates the adaptability of the MM2000 system to detect different gases, and its suitability for use on different types of vessels operating in varied, and sometimes extreme environments. The system has been tested for work in ultra-low temperature environments similar to those found in northern Canada during winter, and has been certified to operate without any problems in temperatures down to -55 degrees centigrade.”
The MM2000 hydrogen sulfide gas detector systems, incorporating five detector heads per ship, will be fitted on board in several shipboard spaces, but in particular close to the vessels’ sewage treatment plants. hydrogen sulphide can be deadly to mariners in high concentrations and the MM2000 will go into a warning condition, alerting the ships’ control centre, when levels reach 10 ppm and will go into a danger condition when the concentration reaches 50 ppm. Both audible and visual, strobe light alarms will be activated when the hydrogen sulphide hydrogen sulphide concentrations reach warning or danger levels. The system adaptable to add up to 32 addressable detectors heads for a variety of gases such as oxygen deficiency; flammable gases; refrigerant vapours and other toxic gases.