Offshore Transfer Devices Seeks Partners to Bring TDD Transfer System to Market

UK-based Offshore Transfer Devices, developer of the Tube Docking Device (TDD) transfer system, is now looking to partner with an established marine engineering firm to help refine the patented product and bring it to the commercial market.

The TDD pins a crew transfer vessel (CTV) to a structure whilst also eliminating any possibility of mechanical entanglement, the company said. Designed to transfer the vessel’s forward propulsion into clamping compression, the TDD is automatically disengaging from the structure once forward propulsion is reduced and the vessel backs away from its docking station.

The project has received continued backing and support from the OWA Carbon Trust, whom thus far have enabled the production of the TDD followed by its installation to a vessel and covering chartering costs during trial periods.

Dan Kyle Spearman of the Carbon trust said: “The TDD has the potential to increase the accessibility to the turbines of existing vessels without penalising the transit capabilities. In the OWA we are proud to see how innovations like the TDD are reaching the market. Thanks to technologies like the TDD turbine availability will increase and the overall LCOE for Offshore Wind will continue to decrease.”

Earlier this year, the TDD was installed by Alicat Work boats on Iceni Marine Services CTV, Iceni Courage, to undergo a series of tests and trials on E.ON’s Scroby Sands offshore wind farm. The device was integrated and powered by hydraulic specialists, Hercules Hydraulics, in Great Yarmouth, UK. A wave rider buoy issued by the OWA was deployed to provide feedback and was followed by a trials program carried out by the Carbon Trust members.

Results from the OWA trials demonstrated that the TDD could hold its pivoting jaws with negligible vertical movement in wave heights of up to 2.7 meters with a CTV as little as 15 meters in length, the company said. Sea states included seas from ahead, astern and a beam.

Richard Thurlow, Director, Iceni Marine Services, said: “It was a pleasure to work with TDD on this innovative project, alongside The Carbon Trust. We were very impressed with the TDD system and Iceni Courage’s performance and can see this system bringing increased workability to the industry. Iceni Marine Services have always been at the forefront of bringing technological advances to the industry with the goal of increasing workability which in turn lowers the cost of energy.”

The TDD also has the ability to increase safety in all aspects of transfers offshore including serving oil and gas rigs, pilot vessel transfers, daughter craft and even when used as an additional feature utilising a light weight device to aid compensated gangways, the company said.

”We have had funds and backing from the OWA Carbon Trust since the very beginning. They have given us a lot of support and this gives the system a lot of credibility. Now that the concept is proven the next stage is route to commercialization,” said Daniel James, Director of Offshore Transfer Devices.

”We are now looking to partner with an established engineering firm who can see the huge potential market for this business, with matching hunger to achieve that potential by helping to refine the product, provide financial backing and catapult it to the market.” 

Below is a video of the TDD’s sea trials carried out on the Scroby Sands wind farm earlier this year:

Photos and video: Offshore Transfer Devices