Superior Aces Arctic-proof mooring system
The winches will have to take on the very cold environment of the North Atlantic Ocean and Norwegian sea
A new mooring package especially manufactured for the severest of conditions is about to be fitted to a barge working in Arctic waters.
It is no small achievement for Ace Winches. The company is presently engaged in manufacturing this £4 million contract for the design of mooring equipment for Superior Energy Services, the company which in 2009 took over Hallin Marine Subsea International with the goal of dominating the emerging subsea well-intervention market. Although Superior is being very cagey about the name of the barge as well as the temperature details, the company’s European arm is active in the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Scheduled for delivery in February 2012, the ABS certified winches will be tailored to meet the mooring requirements of the barge, which will be working in water depths of approximately 60m.
The eight point mooring spread order is comprised of four 100 ton WLL electric double drum winches with drive clutch selection, electrically driven 100 ton capacity over spooling winches complete with local control stands, eight fixed upper, turn-down sheaves, eight sliding fairleads and four electro-hydraulic power units (HPUs).
Having sealed the contract win with Superior Energy Services in Houston, chief executive officer of Ace Winches, Alfie Cheyne, hailed the deal as a significant milestone for the company. “This latest win epitomises the dedication and commitment from both our sales and technical teams in working closely with the client to design the winch system to required specifications, he said.
“With this contract our business is the next step in our strategy to become a significant player in North American market, and further cements our reputation for delivering exceptional service and performance in the world’s harshest operating environments.”
The Superior Energy Services contract follows a major hire contract for Ace to provide a range of equipment to assist repair work being carried out in the Danish sector of the North Sea, comprising of an extensive hydraulic drum winch and HPU package derived from existing Ace hire and Ace manufactured equipment, specifically chosen to suit the client’s requirements.
The winches will be used to position clamps and ancillary components in place on a major rig repair project.
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