New Wave Media

Preston-based Submarine Manufacturing & Products Ltd (SMP) said it has manufactured and supplied a bespoke air/gas diving spread unit for an international subsea service contractor.

 

GloMar Subsea approached SMP to design, develop and manufacture a fully certified 20-foot containerized recompression support chamber, alongside a 20-foot all-inclusive machinery and mixed gas dive control, to support its offshore diving activities.

 

The entire bespoke project was designed, fabricated, painted, assembled and tested by our team of design engineers and workshop technicians at SMP’s site in Preston, Lancashire.

 

The air/gas diving spread comprised of a twin basket launch and recovery system (LARS) fitted with depth monitoring, a modified and containerized 1.8-meter DDC complete with skid mounted gas storage and a bespoke mixed gas dive control and machinery container.

 

The project, from initial conception to final acceptance testing, was delivered in 120 days with a further two days of in-house familiarization training for the customer prior to shipping.

 

Ross Connolly, Sales Manager at SMP, said, “It is vitally important that we work closely with our customers at all stages from enquiry through to completion to ensure that we design and supply exactly what they need. This concept can also be taken forward to include servicing and recertification if required by the customer.”

 

The 1.8-meter ID recompression chamber was manufactured with gas storage beneath and a weather proof maintenance access hatch to ensure the cylinders can be retrieved for periodical inspection. In addition, a remote control panel was installed adjacent to the chamber along with internal chamber CCTV cameras and a sophisticated decompression monitor. 

 

The addition of the under Skid Gas Storage had the added benefit of removing the requirement for additional Gas Storage Quads or Low Pressure Compressors, thus reducing the overall deck foot print of the entire system. 

 

Complying with GloMar’s requirements, the machinery area comprises of two HP compressors, air storage quad and electrical distribution with vents and cooling extractor fans to expel the hot air generated by the compressors, as well as ensuring the machinery operates cool and efficiently. 

 

The inbuilt air storage quad added the extra advantage of supplying the three Diver Mixed Gas Dive Panel with an additional reserve supply of breathing air for the divers in the water. 

 

RodgerWeitzel, GloMar Subsea General Manager, said, “We are very happy with the delivery of the dive spread, we have installed it already on one of our vessels (the GLOMAR WAVE) and will start working with it in the coming weeks.”

 

The Dive Control has also been fitted with a three diver Mixed Gas Dive Panel as well as a full height rack with the state of the art equipment for communications, diver monitoring and CCTV. 

 

Connolly added, “As the systems are used for offshore activities, they both require a DNV container with a system conforming to IMCA Guidelines.”

 

To further enhance the company’s capabilities, SMP joined forces with engineering and fabrication company WEC Group earlier this year as a way of combining each other’s engineering expertise and strengthening operations.

 

WEC Group specialize in the manufacture of a wide range of metal structures and welded assemblies including pressure vessels, rail gantries, armored vehicle hulls and more.