Barge Master Installed on Walk-To-Work Vessel

On October 14 the Barge Master BM-T40 system motion-compensated knuckle boom crane pedestal was installed on the new Wagenborg Walk-to-Work vessel, designed and built by Royal Niestern Sander. The vessel and Barge Master system will be delivered in the first quarter of 2015. NAM will use the motion compensated crane for service and maintenance of gas production platforms in the Southern North Sea.

Offshore platforms have become smaller and more flexible during the last forty years. They no longer have a resident crew or helicopter pads which means frequent journeys to and from the platform by vessel to perform maintenance work. With the new Walk-to Work Vessel these operations can be executed in a safer, more efficient and effective manner. The vessel is unique because multiple functions are combined for the first time in one design. The vessel can accommodate 20 crewmembers and 40 service technicians, chemicals can be stored and transferred safely, and thanks to the T40 Barge Master system materials can be transferred during wave heights of up to 3 meters. Through utilizing new technology, NAM is able to safely continue harvesting gas on the North Sea with an extended weather window and less down time.

According to Barge Master, the BM-T40 is capable of compensating an offshore knuckle boom/telescopic boom crane with a capacity of 15mT.The servicing of wind turbines or unmanned oil (rigs) platforms are typical applications of the Barge Master T40. The system is based on the same principle as the Barge Master T700: roll, pitch and heave are compensated, while surge, sway and yaw are fixated. The T40 is developed together with Bosch Rexroth.