Maritime Developments (MDL) has proven the complete portability of its flex-lay equipment design with a recently completed project in West Africa.
The newest and largest pipelay tensioner in the company’s rental fleet, the MDL TTS-4/375 Series Tensioner was used for installation of oil offloading lines offshore Nigeria.
The system was mobilised from MDL Peterhead facility in 4 modules onto trucks for transport to port, where it was reassembled off critical path before being lifted onto a cargo vessel in a single lift.
Once at the project mobilisation port in Lagos, it was then lifted from the cargo vessel directly onto the project vessel and installed onto the client’s HLS ramp, also manufactured by MDL in Peterhead.
“ We’re glad that we were able to launch our largest tensioner yet in a market that may pose some mobilisation challenges, where the ability to perform a vessel-to-vessel installation really comes into play ,” said Greig May , MDL rental projects manager.
“The TTS-4/375 was the client’s preferred solution because of its road-transportability, as well as the proven track record of MDL tensioners to date.
“A key requirement for this project was the use of non-serrated steel pads, specified by the product manufacturer. The product specification also drove the requirement for a 5.5m track contact length.
“Through the dedication and experience of our internal onshore and offshore personnel, and the professionalism of the client project team, the product was installed safely and with no incidents over the fourteen-month contract duration from award to return of the equipment to MDL’s base,” explained May.