PSL Releases New Product; Gets Harkand and Bibby Offshore Support

PhotoSynergy Ltd (PSL) has added a new product to its subsea portfolio, the SLS2000, developed to provide the option to illuminate the dive umbilical from the diver end.

The unit, with 30mm in diameter and 70mm length, was designed to provide a light source to saturation divers using an LED attached to the umbilical at the diver’s end.

Operational sea trials of the unit are planned with existing clients following the completion of final in-house tests and third party pressure testing.

Furthermore, the company has included PSL’s LIGHTPATH technology in its diving operations and management guidance document.

PSL’s LIGHTPATH range has received support from the inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) specialists Harkand and Bibby Offshore.

PSL Director Don Walker said: “The recognition of the increased safety afforded to divers utilising the LIGHTPATH umbilical lighting concept by these companies marks a significant step for PSL, and we very much appreciate their support.

“We are very grateful for all the help and guidance we have received over the past few years from Harkand and Bibby Offshore – the level of support they have shown has been invaluable and helped us develop LIGHTPATH further for more specific markets.

“We have been operating the LIGHTPATH in the North Sea for the past three years, and the general consensus among the dive community is that divers feel safer using the technology to illuminate saturation diver umbilicals, which enhances safety and productivity for all parties, including the individual diver, colleagues in the water and the bell-man.

“It also gives confidence to the ROV pilot as to the location of diver umbilicals, thus minimising the risk of collision and can significantly reduce the incidence of umbilical snagging, both for saturation and surface air divers.”

Jerry Starling, Harkand’s group diving manager, and a member of the IMCA diving division management committee, said: “Harkand is committed to the wellbeing of its personnel and presenting the most appropriate solutions for clients. As a company we have recognised that although not a mandatory or industry specific requirement, LIGHTPATH further enhances the diver’s ability to manage their umbilical, improving their safety and simultaneously delivering more efficient operations.

“Umbilical management is a key component of diver activity for both safety and time saving reasons. We have found that LIGHTPATH helps reduce recovery time as the diver can track and identify their route back to the bell, as well as identify any snags and entanglement of the umbilical due to the variations in colour offered by the equipment. It also ensures divers and ROV pilots can constantly monitor that the umbilical is clear during equipment deployment and recovery, which are generally high risk activities.

“We look forward to working further with PSL in the future.”

Bibby Offshore Diving Manager Ian Mitchell, said: “Bibby Offshore regard the LIGHTPATH as a significant safety enhancement and use it as standard on all our DSVs. We are pleased to be involved in the further development of the LIGHTPATH system and believe the SLS2000 will further enhance the usefulness of the product and increase its potential applications.”