Demand surges for advanced energy-vessel gangways

These functions are required to guarantee offshore workers on the White Rose topsides can disembark if there is an emergency, such as an iceberg collision

“The continuous flow of personnel and the unique ability to elevate 10 m allows our operations to be highly flexible and eliminates the need for staff to climb staircases in freezing temperatures,” says Mr Amerika.

The combination of a counterweight incorporated into the design allows a balancing tip and software to know exactly where the tip needs to be compensated to. “The sensors and 3D cameras enable the operator to position the tip of the gangway even over a guard rail, providing flexibility in the vessel positioning,” he says.

Using DP means there are less forces and lower fuel consumption. The gangway can be deployed in different locations at White Rose without the need to adapt a certain landing area. There are other benefits, says Mr Amerika. “The separate roll compensation of the gangway reduces the motions in elevated positions, improving workability and enabling higher safety margins during operations.”

The mechanically balanced boom structure with a fixed and moving counterweight provides an intrinsic safe solution with minimal load introduction on the landing area.

“The 10-m vertical height adjustment maintains horizontality, avoiding uphill or downhill walking and further enhances safety,” Mr Amerika adds. “A maximum length of 28 m, means vessels could remain at a further distance to offshore structures, and [gives] flexibility in choosing the optimum vessel heading in changing offshore conditions, which reduces power consumption.”

Safeway has seen rising demand for W2W units as increasing numbers of projects are requesting them for higher safety during offshore personnel operations. “We see project demand is picking up, mostly in floating production system operations,” says Mr Amerika.

“We are seeing longer project durations for maintenance work where continuous connection and flow of personnel is required.”

US SOV gangways

Ulmatec Handling Systems has also seen increasing demand for its W2W gangways from the hydrocarbon and renewable energy sectors. The Hareid, Norway-headquartered company has developed and are now delivering its 32-m and 25-m W2W solutions.

Earlier this year, Ulmatec completed commissioning of the first-ever Jones Act-compliant SOV built in the US. This groundbreaking project was delivered on time to Edison Chouest’s Eco Edison vessel, operating on the US East Coast for Ørsted.

This gangway, featuring an integrated crane function, has dual approval by ABS and DNV. After completing assembly at Ulmatec’s facilities in Fosnavåg and then Hareid, it was shipped to Chouest’s shipyard LA Ship in Houma, Louisiana, where it was installed on the vessel.

The hybrid-drive gangway is more energy efficient than all-electric gangways. It has an accumulator-stabilised boom, minimising energy consumption for lifting and luffing.

Workability is further enhanced by the gangway’s 12-m telescopic compensation range, its fully adjustable access height to wind turbines, and an integrated elevator within the gangway pedestal.

Logistics are supported with electric drive trolleys along the stepless gangway, and loading and unloading of the vessel is supported by an integrated six-ton crane function. For offshore use, a fully 3D-compensated, three-ton crane is accessible at 32 m via the underside of the gangway.

“Our engineers continually improve and refine the system performance, focusing on weight and workability,” Ulmatec chief executive, Iver Bjørnerem says. “Manufacturing is done locally in Norway and by the yard in the US. This ensures reliable deliveries, high quality, and full control of the finished product and no emissions for moving large units from remote locations for testing.”

According to sales manager, Audun Royset, a new 32-m Ulmatec gangway is undergoing final testing in Hareid and will be installed on an SOV being constructed to support Equinor operations on the US East Coast.

Mr Royset thinks the design of gangways will become more customised as newbuilds are ordered to support a wider range of offshore applications. “OSV designs now are multifunctional vessels. They are ready for oil and gas and prepared to support renewable energy,” he says. Ulmatec chief commercial officer, Bjørnar Nesset adds: “We continue to develop in a competitive market. We are optimistic for the years to come.”