InterMoor Acquires BEL Grapnel & Chaser Designs
InterMoor, a leading provider of mooring services, foundation solutions and offshore installations in subsea services group Acteon, announces the acquisition of all intellectual property of the BEL Grapnel & Chaser (BEL) company, including drawings, designs, and cast patterns for its complete range of anchor and chain handling equipment (chasers and grapnels).
Based in the North East of England, with a heritage dating back to the mid-1970s, BEL was the first manufacturer of successful grapnel and chaser products. Integration of BEL products with the Inter-M family of chain and wire chasing and recovery equipment creates a leading portfolio of chain chasers and grapnels. Grapnel hooks are traditionally used during the recovery of dropped components offshore; chasers enable steady and controlled lowering and raising during the installation and recovery of mooring system components.
“BEL products add a new level of intricate anchor recovery in the form of chain pocket, wire roller and detachable and locking mechanisms to InterMoor’s existing range of chaser designs,” says Mark Prentice, Technical Manager at InterMoor UK. “Through finite element analysis, its latest designs are also suitable for the harshest environments in which the O&G industry is increasingly working. All BEL and Inter-M chasers are also designed, cast and tested in the UK to very strict manufacturing procedures, international casting guidelines, complete non-destructive-examination and proof/break load requirements. That makes our combined range of grapnels and chasers the most comprehensive and reliable one in the world.”
“This acquisition provides InterMoor with an opportunity to deliver a more complete offering to our valued clients with fewer interfaces for obtaining the right equipment and the right service at the right time,” Mark Jones, Global Chief Executive Officer of InterMoor, adds. “This means shorter lead times, which is a crucial element in delivering greater operational efficiency to our customers.”