Houlder Announce First Turbine Access System (TAS) Contract (UK)

UK Marine Engineering Company, Houlder announced the first sale of its award winning Turbine Access System (TAS).

Signed by leading workboat operator, Turbine Transfers Ltd, the first TAS order is part of an extensive new fleet construction project recently announced between Turbine Transfers and builders South Boats Ltd.

The TAS, developed with BMT Nigel Gee, will provide safe and reliable access between the new workboats and offshore wind turbine structures. As well as enhance safety, TAS has been designed to extend maintenance, installation and commissioning operability compared to existing transfer methods. It achieves this by enabling crew transfer via a lightweight, motion compensated gangway installed on the bow. In contrast to other transfer systems currently on the market, the TAS does not require vessel dynamic positioning (DP) or anything to be fixed to the turbine structure itself. This unique approach won Houlder the Spirit of Innovation award at this year’s Seawork Exhibition.

The contract sees the first TAS unit installed on Turbine Transfer’s new 19m ‘Caernarfon Bay’ workboat in early 2012. The new South Boats catamaran design carries 3 x 10ft containers and up to 10 tonnes of cargo, is fitted with extensive specifications and is powered by twin MTU 10V2000M72 marine engines. Subsequent boats of the same design and a larger 24m design will also be supplied to Turbine Transfers ‘TAS Ready’ as part of the project.

Rupert Hare, Houlder’s Managing Director commented “A new generation of workboats is vital to the success of UK’s offshore wind industry as turbines move further offshore and into more onerous conditions. Houlder is delighted our equipment is making a contribution”

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Source: HoulderLtd, August 31, 2011