UK: OSBIT Power’s MaXccess Access System Reaches Milestone

OSBIT Power (OP) has announced today (30 October) that the MaXccess-T12 access system for Scira Offshore Energy Limited, the Statoil and Statkraft joint-venture company, has now completed its Lloyds witnessed factory acceptance tests and will go into service shortly at Sheringham Shoal.

 “The tests were completed last week and we are delighted to be able to announce this at RenewableUK 2012,” says Dr Tony Trapp, OP’s CEO. “It has been a frenetically busy period for us with MaXccess. A programme of extensive trials was conducted in conjunction with Siemens, Statoil and Fred Olsen Windcarrier in the spring of 2012. Following these trials Siemens bought the first MaXccess system this summer and quickly put it into service at RWE and SSE’s Greater Gabbard. Since the start of commercial operations in August, MaXccess has been providing safer and more weather tolerant access for Siemens’ technicians accessing the Gabbard turbines. And now a second MaXccess is to go into service at Sheringham Shoal.

Dr Tony Trapp, OP CEO, comments on the achievements he has seen this year from the OP team: “I think we can uniquely say MaXccess is the only crew transfer vessel access system in commercial use. To go from a system waiting to be trialed at the start of the year to systems either in use, or in production, is a testament to the commitment of our team and their skill in delivering and rigorously testing an ingenious, but ultimately simple and reliable system.”

 Dr Trapp continues: “In a time of increasing energy prices offshore wind is under sustained pressure to reduce costs and ensure projects are delivered and maintained as planned. Higher accessibility plays a significant part in this goal. In offshore wind the seemingly simple process of getting personnel out to work was hazardous, and limited to only moderate weather conditions, with vessels and personnel working in an aggressive and unpredictable environment. OP set out to improve access by providing a clever but practical solution.”

The first MaXccess system, currently installed on the 18m Iceni Defiant, operated by Lowestoft-based Iceni Marine, has conducted many hundreds of safe transfers, and has significantly increased the transfer capability of the vessel. Iceni Marine Director Richard Thurlow comments on their involvement in bringing MaXccess into commercial use: “We have been hugely impressed by the performance of the OSBIT MaXccess system. It allows us to offer a level of accessibility and safety that simply isn’t possible using a boat fender alone to secure the vessel on the turbine.

 “We were fortunate to see the MaXccess system in operation at E.ON’s Scroby Sands site during earlier trials, and were keen to be one of the first vessel operators to gain experience of using the system. As a company we recognise the benefits that innovative systems such as MaXccess bring to the market For this reason we are already planning to make other vessels in our fleet MaXccess-ready.”

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Press release, October 30, 2012; Image: jppr