Orion to Feature Safeway W2W System

Dordrecht-based Safeway BV has won a contract to deliver its Osprey-type motion compensated offshore access system for DEME Offshore’s installation vessel Orion.

According to Safeway, the most unique feature of this custom made Safeway walk-to-work system is that the gangway is vertically integrated in a specially designed staircase, which means that the ‘plug and play’ system can be positioned in various places on the 8,000 m2 free deck area of the Orion. This is Safeway’s first contract with DEME Offshore.

“We had the opportunity to further develop the Osprey system with DEME Offshore,” Remko de Boer, General Manager at Safeway, said.

”We have added some important features such as a the vertical gangway storage position, saving deck space as a boom rest on deck is no longer needed. Another unique Safeway feature, ‘zero impact bumpering’ or the ‘hover mode’, is part of the requirements of DEME Offshore as now the vessel can freely choose its heading during operations without being restricted to the position of access gates at the offshore structure.”

The integrated W2W system will be fabricated at Safeway’s dedicated manufacturing facility in Dordrecht. Delivery is planned in early 2020 in Flushing, the Netherlands.

“Safeway qualified as supplier for DEME due to its proven track record in the W2W business as well as their innovative technology,” said Kenneth Vannieuwenhuyse, Lead Methods Engineer at DEME Offshore.

”During the tendering phase, Safeway made the difference by listening to and incorporating DEME Offshore’s specific requirements and features into their Osprey model. We were impressed by Safeway’s open minded approach to change their Osprey design. We are looking forward to seeing the final product come into place and to see the unit come to live on board of our brand new vessel Orion.” 

The 216.5-metre DP3 vessel Orion is set to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2019. It will have the capacity to accommodate a crew of up to 131 people and will be powered by a dual-fuel engine capable of burning liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The vessel will be involved in the construction of the largest offshore wind farms, servicing the oil and gas industry, and decommissioning of offshore installations.