ESS Sets Aside GBP 3 Million for Subsea Trencher

Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) is to invest up to GBP 3 million in developing a water-jetting tool which could potentially ”double trench production rates in seabed trenching operations.”

The subsea and engineering technology company has awarded a contract to Northumberland-based Osbit to be the lead detail design and development provider for the SCARJet subsea vehicle which features ESS’s water-jetting and burial performance enhancement technologies.

“This is a major investment which will strengthen our suite of SCAR seabed tools and offer real benefits to clients operating in the renewables and oil and gas sectors,” ESS technical director Michael Cowie said.

”It is anticipated the SCARJet could double trench production rates compared to existing trenchers in the same class, with significant time and cost savings for the end-client.”

The subsea trencher is a modular design, incorporating hydraulically driven track assemblies, a primary burial tool water feed and deployment systems, and a work-class ROV docking interface, compatible with the most widely used ROV systems in service today.

“We see a natural fit between Osbit and ESS, with us providing world-class expertise in the design and manufacture of subsea vehicles, while ESS has a wealth of operational experience and a vision for sustainable trenching technology,” Osbit director Robbie Blakeman said.

“We share a passion for delivering engineered solutions which reduce complexity and drive down costs, maximise operational effectiveness and reliability, whilst constantly improving safety.”

The R&D for the SCARJet has been supported by Scottish Enterprise and part funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds Programme.

ESS was recently awarded a subsea trenching contract by JD-Contractor A/S for the Kriegers Flak wind farm offshore Denmark.

The Aberdeenshire company has also just completed a GBP 5 million seabed clearance project on behalf of DONG Energy on the Race Bank offshore wind farm located off the Norfolk coast, and a route clearance and trenching project on behalf of Prysmian Group on the 70-turbine Wikinger offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea.