OFFSHORE NEWS
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- Category: General
- Published on Monday, 10 February 2014 08:37
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Vard signs contract for ice class AHTS for Bourbon
Vessel & ROV News - February 10, 2014
Bourbon Offshore Norway's Arctic AHTS will be delivered in 2016.
Vard Holdings Limited has secured a contract with Bourbon for the design and construction of an Arctic anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel.
The AHTS is being designed for worldwide, remote operations, and will have a length of 93.6m, beam of 24m and bollard pull of approximately 270 tonnes.
The vessel is arranged to deploy a ROV and has accommodation for 60 people. The vessel will also have what Vard described as "superior anchor-handling capabilities as well as a hybrid propulsion system providing energy savings."
The vessel will be operated by Bourbon Offshore Norway and is scheduled for delivery from Vard Brattvaag in Norway in the first quarter of 2016.
The hull of the vessel will be delivered from Vard Tulcea in Romania.
Handbook for ROV Pilot / Technicians
Price: $200 / £111 / €144
Pages: 360
Product Order No: ROV/P/T
ISBN: 978-1-870945-85-1
Product Description
This most popular book is now available in its second edition, which has been fully revised to bring its huge information content up to date. Originally produced as the result of over six years experience in providing training courses at Wray Castle College, this new edition covers the essential skills and knowledge that ROV Pilot/Technicians should, but all too often don’t, have in order to perform satisfactorily. The book covers all types of ROVs and their applications including: inspection, intervention, construction, cable laying, MCM, ROTV and others. In addition the description of piloting skills, photography, video and all the technical aspects are included in a very practical and comprehensive way, enabling it to be used for ‘on-the-job’ training in appropriate situations. The book includes an appendix of useful technical data that is so often hard to find just when you need it, making it the kind of book that will become an essential ‘tool’ for the job. From the company point of view, the book offers an explanation of quality systems and their importance, including an essential chapter on offshore safety, enabling it to bridge the gap between onshore management and offshore personnel in these important areas.
IMCA issues guidance on verifier training
Publications - January 20, 2014
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Competence Assurance & Assessment guidance, originally launched in January 1999 and regularly updated (last update 2012), is designed to facilitate improved safety in the offshore industry by providing a framework for IMCA’s marine contractor members to assess and demonstrate to other the competence of their safety-critical personnel. Now new associated guidance has been published for verifier training.
“Assessment naturally should be supported by verification of the assessment of the individual’s competence; the role of the verifier is to check or verify assessments that have been completed offshore; and a verifier should be used as part of a company’s in-house audit arrangements – his or her role is naturally of vital importance,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler.
“We have just published ‘Guidance on Verifier Training’ (IMCA C 016). This aims to provide a checklist of the topics to be considered for inclusion in a verifier training programme and the appropriate auditing arrangements for such a programme.
“As an association we do not approve or formally recognise any particular verifier training course or programme – this type of training given to a verifier is for each IMCA member to determine. However, our new document, although not intended as a formal training document, sets out aspects which would normally be included in a verifier training programme. The provision of verifier guidelines can be useful in achieving a more consistent level of assessment.”
In the new document IMCA points out that some form of monitoring and support will often be required to be in place to ensure that new verifiers are clear about the role they are to perform and are supported as they find their feet with this important role.
“This can also help to address the issues of lack of objectivity and natural bias,” says Jane Bugler. “Some companies address this challenge by putting internal quality assurance or internal verification processes in place and focus on supporting verifiers rather than a traditional auditing approach.”
As well as providing background information on the structure and process of competence assurance schemes, the guidance has sections devoted to ‘Who are the verifiers and what do they do?’; ‘Training for verifiers’; ‘Formal Verifier and Assessor Standards and Qualifications’; ‘ ‘Verifier training challenges’; and ‘Providing Support and Advice’
The new publication is available online for free downloading by IMCA members and non-members alike, and printed copies can be bought from IMCA at £5.00 (zero VAT) for members and £10.00 for non-members (plus delivery charge where applicable) from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Subsea Technology & Rentals expands 6G USBL and LBL rental pool
Equipment & Technology - February 7, 2014
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Subsea Technology & Rentals (STR) has boosted its rental stock with the purchase of Ranger 2 USBL tracking systems, a Lodestar GyroCompatt, Wideband Mini Transponders (WMTs), LBL Compatt 6 transponders with specialist inclinometer DigiQuartz sensors and ROVNav 6 transceivers from Sonardyne International Ltd.
The equipment has been added to the company’s rental pool in Great Yarmouth from where it is available to support survey and construction projects worldwide.
STR has purchased the portable version of the Ranger 2 which is configured for use on vessels of opportunity where it may only remain installed for a short period.
The Compatts and ROVNavs ordered will complement the LBL hardware the company previously ordered and was in high demand throughout 2013 for applications including pipeline metrology and structure installation.
“Equipment flexibility, performance, ease of use and reliability are major considerations for us when selecting which subsea technology to invest in,” commented Neil Jackson, Subsea Technology & Rentals’ Sales and Operations Manager.
“Our customers need the equipment we supply to be mobilised and operational with the minimum of delay and then remain operational for the duration of their project. Sonardyne 6G delivers in every respect and by further increasing our holdings, we are reinforcing our position as a leading supplier of the latest generation acoustic positioning technology.”