Displaying items by tag: Ampelmann

In a unique collaborative effort, offshore access provider Ampelmann and Damen Shipyards Group are ready to enter the final testing phase of their joint project that fully integrates the S-type motion compensated gangway with the newly constructed fast crew change vessel, the Aqua Helix (FCS 7011). Final testing will commence at the end of February and customer trials are expected to begin mid-March. This all-in-one vessel and gangway is designed to address the growing demand for safe, comfortable, and efficient crew change operations in the North Sea.

The S-type is a top-of-the-line system in a range of recent Ampelmann products aimed at addressing the shortcomings of the offshore crew change market. Fully electric and lightweight, it is especially energy efficient due to its regenerative power system, requires only a single operator and can transfer up to 50 people within five minutes. Specifically designed to endure the roughest of metocean conditions, this system can compensate for waves up to 3m Hs.

The gangway has been fully integrated into the recently launched Aqua Helix - a 70m highly lightweight DP2 vessel that is ideally suited for conditions in the North Sea. The vessel can reach up to 40 knots, actively counteracts vessel motions in the roughest sea states and its spacious interior as well as onboard amenities guarantee the best possible travel experience. Optimised for rapid transits, this fully integrated collaborative crew change solution ensures a safe, efficient and comfortable transfer. 

In a novel approach to offshore access, companies can commission the service provided by Damen and Ampelmann on a recurring basis to fulfil their crew change requirements. There is a growing need for flexible marine solutions that increase the efficiency of offshore operations and enable the rapid deployment of highly specialised technical crew. The combination of the Aqua Helix and the S-type will help to satisfy the demand for flexible transfer options by supplying on-demand offshore access.   

Damen and Ampelmann’s innovative collaborative effort underpins the need for efficiency and safety in the regional offshore market. In many ways this new service is more than the sum of its parts. The companies’ combined expertise is sure to make an impact on the world of crew change operations.

Ampelmann designs and delivers innovative, safe, reliable and efficient transfer solutions to the offshore energy industries globally. With a track record of more than 7 million safe people transfers, over 18.5 million kg cargo transfers and 400 projects worldwide, Ampelmann operates in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East.

Ampelmann currently maintains a fleet of 65 operational systems used for transferring crews and cargo to offshore structures. Its solutions are tailored to the needs of different market segments, sea states, cargo and crew loads, and are used by the key players in the global industry.

An uptick in projects and an increasing demand for its solutions has prompted Ampelmann, the Dutch offshore access provider, to mobilise two new L-type systems to the Middle East.

The company has long been the preferred choice for both national and international oil companies (NOCs and IOCs) in the region, enabling Walk to Work (W2W) operations with the highest standard of safety and efficiency in the industry. The addition of the L-types to the current fleet will expand Ampelmann’s local offering and further improve its response time to new demand in the region.

The addition of the L-types to the current fleet will expand Ampelmann’s local offering and further improve its response time to new demand in the region. Photo: Ampelmann

An electric system for safe offshore access

Ampelmann has been active in the Middle East for close to a decade now, enabling W2W operations with both its A- and L-type gangway systems. The A-type is the company’s flagship system, and it has been supporting key players in the local market, including several vessel owners and operators in Azerbaijan and Qatar, to gain safer and more efficient access to their offshore assets.

The L-type, on the other hand, is Ampelmann’s smaller, fully electric system, which is particularly well suited to daily crew change operations or supporting EPC scopes, such as installation and hook-up and commissioning. It provides continuous access for personnel from a vessel to an offshore platform, making it faster and easier for clients to perform work on their assets.

The system has already enabled various scopes of work in Qatar and Oman and the success of those has sparked further interest in the gangway. The two L-types are newly assembled and coming directly from Ampelmann’s production facility in the Netherlands. They will be ready for operation in the region as of the end of September 2021.

Strengthening an already strong track record

To date, the L-type has supported two shutdown campaigns, one of which in Oman, as well as several offshore construction projects in Qatar. As a result, it has safely transferred close to 10,000 offshore workers onto Oil & Gas platforms and back.

For the shutdown support in Oman, the system provided 100% operability, allowing crucial well-related work to be performed on time. This reduced the risk of delayed start-up for the client. For the construction projects, the L-type provided flexibility, a fast response to the client’s needs as well as the ability to transfer a large number of personnel quickly and according to the highest safety standards.  

These – and any upcoming campaigns with the L-type – are adding to Ampelmann’s already strong track record in the local market. Last year, the company completed its 1 millionth safe personnel transfer in the region in less than 10 years of operation. Key to reaching this milestone has been Ampelmann’s presence in the Middle East. The company has a fully operational office in Doha, Qatar, which provides 24/7, in-country and regional support to clients. In 2018, it also opened an office Dubai in a move to be even closer to the local market and its needs.

Going forward, the company is looking to meet the demand for safe offshore access with its two new L-type systems, and to further expand its offering for the local market. Unlike many regions, the Middle East is still seeing exponential growth and currently, with offices both in Doha and Dubai, Ampelmann is best placed to support its clients locally.

Ampelmann, the Dutch offshore access provider, has signed its first contract offshore China. The company will provide the A-type gangway, one of its flagship systems, to Guangdong Safety New Energy for the offshore wind works off Guangdong province. It was able to secure this project with the support of its local partner in the region Leading Marine (HK) CO. Limited.

In line with the need for a global energy transition, many governments have set ambitious targets for generating green energy, and so has China. In the Guangdong area, where the project with Ampelmann is located, China plans to install 10GW by 2030, which is part of the plan to achieve 40GW nationwide by that same year.

By the end of October 2021, Ampelmann will provide the A-type on the client’s new 60m Service Operation Vessel (SOV) named “MV Guang An Yun Wei 88”. It will be first the SOV equipped with a motion compensated gangway in China. The system will enable the safe and efficient transfer of personnel at Guangdong Yangjiang offshore Wind Farm, which is the largest wind farm in Guangdong and is located 40 nautical miles offshore where turbines will be installed at a depth of around 40m.

The A-type gangway system features an advanced motion compensation control system with precision controls to enable fast landing and comfortable people transfers

Guangdong Safety New Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangdong Yuean Shipping. Their venture with Ampelmann will be for a minimum period of six months and could possibly be extended for another half a year. The project will mark Yuean’s first step in the offshore wind operations and maintenance sector. In addition, it will be the first time a proven full motion compensated gangway is used in a Chinese offshore access operation.

“We are very excited about this opportunity,” said Vincent Chua, Business Developer at Ampelmann. “With it we can show the value of our systems and raise the standard of both safety and efficiency of offshore access operations in the area.”

To further improve the efficiency of offshore operations, the company provides multiple services to maintain technical reliability and increase workability. Services include 24/7 operations support and digital tools that give their clients insight into the workability of their operations.

According to Chua, Ampelmann’s greatest value is provided by our experienced and competent operators. “They are the ones who ensure the efficiency and safety of our operations,” he says. Because of their important role, Ampelmann invests to ensure that operators are well trained to operate the systems. Following the first project in China, Ampelmann is looking into the possibility of training local operators to support upcoming projects in the country, too.

Ampelmann designs and delivers innovative, safe, reliable and efficient transfer solutions to the offshore energy industries globally. With a track record of more than 7 million safe people transfers, over 18.5 million kg cargo transfers and 400 projects worldwide, Ampelmann operates in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East.

Ampelmann currently maintains a fleet of 65 operational systems used for transferring crews and cargo to offshore structures. Its solutions are tailored to the needs of different market segments, sea states, cargo and crew loads, and are used by the key players in the global industry.

Electric solutions, a lower carbon footprint and a strong commitment to sustainability are sure to be the future of the Walk to Work (W2W) industry. In line with that, Dutch offshore access provider Ampelmann, has announced the launch of an electric version of its signature A-type system.  

Based on the technology and decade-long track record of its flagship system, the latest iteration of the A-type has seen its traditional hydraulic power train replaced by electric regenerative actuation, decreasing its energy use by more than 80%. This shift in technology does not only contribute to more environmentally friendly operations, but also makes the system significantly lighter, smaller in deck footprint and even quicker to mobilise. 

The electric A-type is now fully operational after undergoing extensive offshore trials on the Horizon Star vessel in Eneco’s Princess Amalia windfarm.  

“At Ampelmann, we are committed to driving our industry into a more sustainable future,” said CEO Jan van der Tempel. “The successful upgrade of the A-type to an electric system moves us directly towards that goal. This is a key milestone for our company as we continue to work towards new sustainable innovations.” 

Smaller, lighter and more sustainable

The benefits of an electric W2W system are mostly two-fold. On the one hand, the electric A-type is smaller and lighter, requiring fewer resources to operate compared to its hydraulic-powered counterpart. Weight is reduced by 40% and energy use by 80%, considerably decreasing the environmental impact of the system without compromising workability specifications.  

“With the implementation of electric drives, large heavy components of the hydraulic system became redundant, including the 20ft power pack container,” said Diederick Nierstrasz, Business Developer at Ampelmann. “Clients can expect the same capabilities as the non-electric A-type system, with an even higher reliability and ease of use.” 

Additionally, Nierstrasz explains that the electric drives have improved the A-type’s accuracy and response time, while also eliminating the noise and vibrations the hydraulic-powered system used to produce. 

Improved specifications and new possibilities on the horizon

In total, the change to electric actuation has led to an A-type with a smaller footprint, a reduction in weight and no need for an HPU on deck. The weight reduction of around 40% leads to plenty of added benefits as it makes the system suitable for smaller and lighter vessels and allows for higher vessel speeds.  

In cooperation with Damen, Ampelmann has been taking steps towards the future of the offshore crew change market. The S-type, a newly designed system based on the technology of the electric A-type, is to be deployed on Damen’s new 7011 Fast Crew Supplier in Q3. The system, due to its improved specifications, is essential to the performance of the crew change operation. The new vessel is designed for a sailing speed of 40 knots, combined with a safe transfer of people in sea states up to 3m Hs in DP-mode. The combination of high transit speed and a high workability for people transfer makes this vessel a true game-changer for the marine crew change market. 

The demand for safe, efficient, and sustainable crew change operations is growing in the offshore industry, and Ampelmann’s electric A-type answers to these demands. Van der Tempel considers its development therefore a great success. “This electric system is a significant step forward for our original A-type, which has been maintaining a stellar track record in the industry. The new iteration has improved plenty of important system specifications that are crucial in our journey towards more sustainable offshore operations.”  

Ampelmann, the global leader in offshore access solutions, has won five new offshore wind contracts over the course of September. These projects will see two A-type and three E-type systems installed on vessels operating in the North Sea.

Four of the five contracts have been secured by Ampelmann’s recently opened office in Hamburg, Germany.

This is an important achievement for the company as the offshore wind market continues to strengthen and Walk to Work (W2W) operations become increasingly important. To date, Ampelmann has enabled the safe transfer of 400,000 people and seven million kilograms of cargo in the offshore wind sector worldwide.

Ampelmann’s E1000 gangway being utilised on an offshore wind turbine

Among the new contracts is a five-month commissioning campaign with vessel owner Eidesvik. “After a successful collaboration last year, we are excited to work with Eidesvik again in the coming winter season,” said Tim Börner, Business Development Manager Offshore Wind at Ampelmann.

An Ampelmann E-type system has been installed on the Viking Neptun vessel to enable supporting works at the Merkur wind farm in the German North Sea. The E-type provides safe offshore access in rough sea waters and can compensate wave motions up to 4.5m Hs.

In response to increasing demand in the region, Ampelmann has also expanded its team in Hamburg. Caspar Blum has been appointed Business Development Manager and will support the company’s growth ambitions in offshore wind.

“It is great to have Caspar onboard, especially at a time when demand for our solutions and services in the industry is growing,” said Mr. Börner. “We look forward to further increasing our footprint in the renewables sector and the new addition to our team ensures that we can keep delivering the quality our clients expect.”

Ampelmann will be celebrating its latest achievements at this year’s WindEnergy Hamburg, 25 - 28 September. The company will be exhibiting at stand 108, Hall B4 at the Hamburg Messe.

Ampelmann designs and delivers innovative, safe, reliable and efficient transfer solutions to the offshore energy industries globally. With a track record of more than 4.5 million safe people transfers, over 8.6 million kg cargo transfers and 240 projects worldwide, Ampelmann operates in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East.

Ampelmann currently maintains a fleet of 60 operational systems used for transferring crews and cargo to offshore structures. Its solutions are tailored to the needs of different market segments, sea states, cargo and crew loads, and are used by the key players in the global industry.