Aquatic Launches New Modular Carousel System

Aquatic Engineering & Construction Ltd, an Acteon company, has unveiled its 1500 te carousel (AQCS‐01‐1500) a powerful, modular drive system representing a significant capability extension for customers requiring installation or replacement of flexibles, umbilicals, power and telecommunication cables and wire rope products.

Installation in deeper water(s) has become a recent trend in the subsea market, often being performed in depths ranging from 2000-3000m. However installation, replacement or recovery work at this depth requires specialist equipment to accommodate the increasing length and weight of the items being installed. Aquatic’s carousel system provides the strength and stability that can withstand the installation of the heaviest equipment in deep water.

In addition, Aquatic is assisting its customers on projects that demand increasingly long subsea tie-backs to processing platforms thereby demonstrating the carousel’s undoubted capability and flexibility in all waters.

The carousel can handle a product load up to 1500 te, has a maximum reeling speed of approximately one km/h and uses a built-in tensioner with a maximum line pull of five tonnes to maintain product tension on the horizontal reel at all times. The tensioner is mounted on a level-wind tower, which ensures proper spooling on and off the carousel. It has a reel diameter of 12 meters and a variable hub diameter, which means that it can handle multiple products and can be mobilised onto most vessels of opportunity.

“This new system draws on all of our previous engineering and operational experience,” said Aquatic Group President Chris Brooks. “Unlike other designs on the market, our carousel is genuinely modular and can be broken down to components that fit in standard shipping containers. It is straightforward to assemble and, crucially for our customers, a much less expensive option than buying a new vessel and building a carousel around the ship. The development of this new carousel underlines our commitment to providing services that meet our customers’ needs.”

Press Release, October 04, 2013