As industry turns to the world’s oceans for new sources of oil and gas — as well as “green energy” sources such as wind and wave farms — a new market has been created for specialized tools and equipment designed to make repairs and maintenance below the water’s surface.
JD Neuhaus — a manufacturer of air hoists, winches and cranes based in Witten, Germany — has begun develoing specialized equipment for working at deep depths in one of the world’s most demanding environments.
Divers Working in Poor Conditions
Divers who make repair to offshore rigs and other oceanic equipment are often faced with difficult conditions, including working alone, maneuvering in fast-moving ocean currents, working various depths with immense pressure and frigid water temperatures, as well as low visibility. So the equipment they use has to be rugged, reliable, easy to operate and comply with the highest performance standards.
That’s why JD Neuhaus has developed hoists that fit capacities from 500 lbs to 100 tons. Sub-sea hoists can be used both underwater and on the surface of a vessel. They have a wide range of operational, maintenance and repair functions for jack-up rigs, semi-submersible platforms, drilling ships and other vessels. Another use is for underwater pipeline and wellhead operations at distances of 200 feet below the water’s surface.
These type of specialized tools are becoming more and more in demand, according to the website Handy Shipping Guide.
“The proliferation of offshore wind farms and wave power generation systems has also increased the potential requirements for suitable power tools that can be safely utilized underwater,” the website stated. “Harbor locations often require underwater work, albeit not at great depths, while lakes, rivers, dams, reservoirs and bridge building operations can also have need for similar inspection, recovery or repair operations.”
Replacing a 50-Ton Rudder While at Sea
Among the biggest challenges for JD Neuhaus engineers was developing an air operated hoist that was used to remove and replace a 50-ton rudder on a fully-loaded cargo carrier vessel that had broken down while traveling between Brazil and China.
The ship was first towed to a safe mooring point off the coast of Venezuela, where divers removed the rudder and used a JD Neuhuas Profi 25-ton hoist to replace it with a new one. The entire operation was completed entirely at sea and none of the ship’s substantial amount of cargo had to be removed from the vessel.
During some underwater operations, divers use specially designed hoists that can be operated independently while working at depths of up to 70 meters. They are supplied with either compressed air or hydraulic equipment that they can control while beneath the water’s surface.
“This controller is connected by standard length 2-meter hoses to the hoist which ensures the aquanaut, hoist and load are all located within a close working environment,” according to the website. “The system is designed to ensure instantaneous and sensitive regulation of the hoist movements, providing infinitely variable speed of the load hook during both the raise and lower hoist operations.”
Because the diver can operate the equipment on his or her own, the need for voice instructions from the surface is not necessary, so delays or errors created through poor communication are eliminated.