TPi July 2015

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July 2015 Tube Products International 55
Mater ials handl ing & logist ics
DNVGL-qualified deepwater lowering system
Cooperation between three companies
developing solutions for deepwater
installation has led to the introduction
of a new system capable of handling
heavy loads at depths of more than
3km.
The companies involved are Deep Tek,
which provides a wide range of services
to the oil and gas, salvage, scientific
research and deep water mining
sectors; Lankhorst Ropes, a rope
technology innovator and manufacturer
of high-performance synthetic ropes;
and DSM Dyneema, the producer of
Dyneema® ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene fibre.
Working closely together, the three
companies have developed a fully
integrated system based on Deep Tek’s
drum winch technology for deploying
and recovering payloads in deep
waters.
Deep Tek has developed and patented
a spooling pattern that allows multiple
layers of synthetic fibre rope to be
spooled onto a load-bearing winch
drum with no risk of cutting in.
Lankhorst has created a new rope
design with fully optimised fatigue and
load bearing characteristics for use in
the deepwater lowering system. This
rope is based on DSM Dyneema’s DM20
XBO fibre and a proprietary coating
technology.
The new system makes use of a rope
condition management system and
takes full advantage of Dyneema
fibre’s strength, enabling vessel owners
to maximise their vessel output by
dispensing with the weight of steel
wire. It is currently being qualified
by classification society DNVGL
using Assurance Case methodology,
which enables introduction of new
technology without relaxing certification
requirements.
The system has already found its first
commercial success, with two orders
placed by Jaya, an offshore energy
services group that is now part of the
Mermaid Marine group of companies.
Jaya will fit the system to 110-tonne
cranes designed by JJ Offshore for two
new 88m ships.
Deep Tek’s managing director, Moya
Crawford, commented that the joint
development leverages the three
companies’ technological capabilities
and expertise, for the benefit of their
customers: “It responds to the needs
of vessel owners that wish to install
higher loads in deeper waters using
smaller and more economic vessels
than before. It also addresses concerns
of major oil companies about the rising
cost of developing deepwater fields.”
Wilco Stroet, senior vice-president
maritime, oil and gas at Lankhorst
Ropes, said, “All three partners believe
the prospects for the new deepwater
lowering system are excellent, and we
will all be putting our weight behind the
technology to make sure it succeeds
in what are very competitive markets
around the world.”
Jorn Boesten, segment manager
offshore at DSM Dyneema, added,
“Dyneema fibres have outstanding
potential in deep-sea environments, and
we are very happy to work together
with Lankhorst Ropes and Deep Tek to
maximise this potential.”
DSM Dyneema – The Netherlands
The load-bearing winch drum from Deep Tek
with patented spooling pattern
A new rope design from Lankhorst with optimised fatigue and load-bearing characteristics