UK: First Subsea Receives ABS 2009 Approval for Mooring Connectors

Subsea mooring connector (SMC) equipment supplier, First Subsea, has been awarded the American Bureau of Shipping’s ABS 2009 Approval for specialist subsea mooring connectors. It is the first manufacturer of offshore mooring connectors to achieve this type approval for the design and manufacture of large scale forgings over 500mm in diameter.

The ABS 2009 Certification of Offshore Mooring Chain specifies the requirements for materials, design, manufacture, and testing of offshore mooring chain and accessories, including special subsea mooring connectors, intended to be used for temporary and permanent mooring systems.

The approval applies to First Subsea’s range of Ballgrab ball and taper mooring connectors manufactured from steel grade 4330V forgings up to 510mm outside diameter. The subsea mooring connectors can be used with R3, R3S, R4, R4S & R5 grade chain and shackle.

Leader in Large Scale Forgings Research

The ABS 2009 Approval builds on First Subsea’s investment in research into large scale steel forgings. In collaboration with the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Microstructural and Mechanical Process Engineering (IMMPETUS), the company leads the world in research into the manufacture and testing of 4330V large scale steel forgings.

The company’s research was instrumental the development of the steel grade 4330V, and in assisting ABS in specifying the optimum sample testing location for assessing the forging’s mechanical properties and Charpy impact values.

“The ABS 2009 Approval for First Subsea’s mooring connectors is the culmination of many years of investment both financial, and time and effort by our dedicated team of engineers. Customers can be assured of the quality and engineering integrity of First Subsea’s connectors as operators look to extend the life of their deepwater permanent moorings,” says John Shaw, managing director, First Subsea Ltd.

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Press Release, January 30, 2013