Trelleborg software ‘steers’ Brent D topsides through Seaton Channel

Aug. 9, 2018
Trelleborg’s marine systems division helped guide Allseas’ Iron Lady to shore last year, while the barge was carrying the 24,200-ton topsides that the Pioneering Spirit had earlier removed from Shell’s Brent D platform in the UK North Sea.

Offshore staff

CHIPPENHAM, UK – Trelleborg’s marine systems division helped guide Allseas’ Iron Lady to shore last year, while the barge was carrying the 24,200-ton topsides that the Pioneering Spirit had earlier removed from Shell’s Brent D platform in the UK North Sea.

The voyage took place from the Tees Bay off northeast England to Able UK’s Seaton Port in Hartlepool on May 2, 2017.

The Brent field is 115 mi (185 km) east of the Shetland Islands in 140 m (459 ft) water depth – Allseas removed the topsides from the concrete legs of the platform’s gravity base structure, with the load subsequently transferred to theIron Lady.

To ensure safe piloting of the barge through the 1,000-m (3,281-ft) long Seaton Channel to Able’s recycling site, Tees Bay Pilots, the official maritime pilot group for the ports of Tees and Hartlepool, commissioned Trelleborg’s Safepilot Portable Pilot Unit (PPU) software, with built-in roll and pitch sensors, and SafePilot CAT II, a tool for navigation and berthing.

SafePilot PPU software provides a touch screen interface that is said to facilitate quick interaction to make piloting smoother.

Other features are an instant zoom function and a new intelligent chart structure, claimed to improve response and decision-making times, giving pilots greater control and leading to more accurate piloting and navigational maneuvers.

SafePilot CAT II, which is independent of the ship’s sensors, uses GPS (L1) and GLONASS (L1) satellites and is prepared for Gallileo.

08/09/2018