AHTS deck gear order for Rolls-Royce

The package, which is designed to improve operational safety, will include a new anchor handling frame (AHF) and a hydraulic anchor winch, which is capable of pulling 500 tonnes. It will feature anchor handling cranes and systems to ensure controlled management of wires and chains when pulling heavy loads.

The company says that as the exploration and production for oil and gas moves towards deeper waters, mooring lines become heavier, more difficult and more hazardous to handle. The new AHF is designed to reduce the handling forces and wire tension during anchor deployment and retrieval operations, while minimising the human exposure to hazardous operating conditions. The AHF is mounted at the stern of the vessel to ease the deployment and recovery of anchors. It makes it simpler to deck the anchor with correct orientation and without repeated efforts or assistance from other vessels.

Arne Tande, Rolls-Royce, senior vice-president – offshore deck machinery said: “This latest contract cements Rolls-Royce’s position as the market leader in anchor handling equipment. We supply world leading technology which enables safer and more efficient operations in deep water oil fields.”