Making aft deck a safer workplace

“We have a clearly defined intention to be a total supplier of aft deck solutions to the anchor handling and supply vessel fleets. Our approach to this market is to supply new and innovative solutions with focus on the environment and safety”.

These are the words of Vice President Offshore Supply, Jon Olav Kopperstad. There is a high level of activity in this segment, and many new projects in the marketplace.

“The prognosis for the future is also excellent, and we can see that there is enormous potential for both our current range of products and the new products that we are launching,” says Kopperstad.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

ODIM is a relatively new participant in the field of automated handling solutions to the supply fleet. Despite this, the company has launched a number of new solutions during the past few years that have given rise to high levels of interest amongst ship owners.

“Development projects, including co-operative projects with Hydro, Statoil and a number of ship owners, have really lifted our threshold, and our clients see us as an innovative supplier that presents new solutions with a strong focus on safer work operations.

New solutions have been regularly rolled out by ODIM, and several of these are now in use with excellent feedback from ship owners.

“ODIM ARF™ is one solution that has been very well received in the market. This is a type of A frame that reduces the forces in play when an anchor is to be taken up from the sea and winched in over the aft deck of an anchor-handling vessel,” explains Jon Olav Kopperstad. “Normand Ferking”, a vessel in the Solstad Shipping fleet, was the first to be equipped with this solution, but we have now sold ODIM ARF™ to a total of ten vessels and have received queries for many more. There is a high level of interest for the solution, especially after further development of the system with a stern roller integrated”.

HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST

“ODIM ABCS™ is a unique solution for the automatic coupling of hoses between the platform and vessel that has been developed in co-operation with Hydro. Four vessels equipped with this solution will soon be ready for delivery, and these are destined for long-term service with the oil company.

“Many oil companies are very interested in ODIM ABCS™, but are waiting to see how the vessels owned by DOF, Farstad and Havila function in practice,” Kopperstad tells us.

Two other exciting solutions are almost ready for launching. The ODIM CWHU™ (Cable Wire Handling Unit) is a new and innovative integrated device for towing pin/shark jaw on the aft deck of anchor handling vessels.

A new and revolutionary manipulator arm that will enable the aft deck to be free of crew is also undergoing trials. This is the ODIM RAHS™ (Remote Anchor Handling System).

“The last-mentioned solution is a development project we are working on in co-operation with Statoil, Innovation Norway and A.P. Møller. The project is the subject of great interest, and the device can be used on many of the new anchor-handling vessels that will be built in the years ahead,” says Jon Olav Kopperstad.