Family-owned business offers new approach to operations and maintenance

A new approach to operations and maintenance in the offshore wind industry was launched at Global Offshore Wind in London in June.

Sturrock and Robson, which has its roots in the South African mining and shipping industries, is an international, diversified industrial group best known for its work in offshore oil and gas, launched a new company Secorra, at the exhibition and conference.

It describes Secorra and what it has to offer as “a smart, simple and safe approach to operations and maintenance services for offshore renewable energy.”

Sturrock and Robson operates globally, with primary offices in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, Australia, and the US. Having identified potential for improving the way operations and maintenance (O&M) services are currently conducted, it has launched the Secorra brand, and aims to optimise the process.

The company believes it can provide customers with reduced asset downtime, better value for money, fewer contractual interfaces and improved awareness of their assets’ condition. This will be achieved through ‘sympathetic planning’ to reduce contractor days offshore, intelligently combining services, utilising new technology and providing timely access to report data.

Secorra’s core focus area will be subsea operations and maintenance solutions, providing inspection, corrosion protection, steel and cable services, balance of plant and refit projects.

Sturrock and Robson chief sales officer Moritz Bolle says, “We realise that orchestrating operations and maintenance for offshore windfarms, particularly subsea work, is very demanding and time-consuming for operators and asset managers.

“We want to give our customers more capacity to focus on optimising their assets and reduce the hassle and inefficiency that can come with co-ordinating subcontractors, putting up with sub-par project execution and inadequate reporting.”

Secorra’s approach to O&M combines approaching tasks intelligently, including bundling services where it will maximise value for customers, utilising and developing technology such as machine learning and 3D modelling. Reporting will be swiftly accessible and allow for interactive insights through a web-based platform.

“By understanding the roots of our customers’ needs and concerns, we are able to construct a smart package of work which delivers real customer value,” says Secorra head of sales Neil Carthy.

The company plans to use new technology, including unmanned aerial and sub-surface vehicles, artificial intelligence and 3D modelling. It is already bidding for projects in the UK sector of the North Sea but plans to target opportunities elsewhere in Europe and beyond in due course.

Since the London event when the Secorra brand was launched, the company has confirmed that, to be nearer its offshore wind customers and industry peers, it has decided to move its base to Grimsby in January 2020.

Sturrock and Robson is not a complete newcomer to the offshore wind industry, however, having acquired Reach Engineering & Diving Services (REDS) Ltd in 2010.

REDS works in the nuclear energy, hydropower, oil and gas and civil engineering sector and specialises in providing specialist skills for difficult to access projects, both at height and subsea. This includes providing diving and rope access engineering solutions to the renewable energy industry.

The company has undertaken diving and access work on offshore windfarms including Barrow, Borkum West, Rhyl Flats, Thanet, Robin Rigg, Kentish Flats, Greater Gabbard, Sheringham Shoal, Burbo Bank, Gwynt y Mor and North Hoyle. It was awarded its first offshore wind diving project on the Barrow offshore windfarm 2007, providing cable remediation and support services.