Thrust Maritime will provide Malaysian offshore engineering and construction contractor SapuraAcergy and their diving associated entity SapuraKencana Allied Marine with a remote hyperbaric recovery and reception capability for its latest offshore gas project in Myanmar – a world first.
SapuraAcergy will use Thrust Maritime’s patented technology to ensure the safe recovery of saturation divers in the event of a diving catastrophe on the Badamyar Low Compression Platform project, owned by French oil and gas giant, Total.
The project involves installing Thrust Maritime’s fully class certified man-riding A-Frame and a Hyperbaric Reception Facility (HRF) with associated mating and life support equipment on the Hyperbaric Rescue Vessel (HRV), allowing immediate evacuation and treatment of the dive team.
Figure 1: The THOR A-Frame and HRF shown on the aft deck of the HRV
Thrust Maritime is the only company in the world to provide “for hire” large man-riding A-Frames (called THORs) which are DNV certified and specifically designed and used for the recovery of Self Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboats (SPHLs) and Hyperbaric Rescue Capsules (HRCs).
Thrust Maritime’s THOR provides the capability to recover SPHLs and HRCs in the most challenging offshore conditions, providing options for offshore personnel in the event of an incident with the Dive Support Vessel and ensuring best practice for saturation diving activities.
Installation of the equipment will occur in Malaysia in March 2016 with diving operations to be conducted in the Northern sector of the Andaman Sea in Myanmar in the second quarter of 2016. At the completion of installation, a drill will be conducted to ensure operational readiness.
Quotes attributable to Thrust Maritime Managing Director, Ben Healy:
“As this operation is in a remote area, the traditional approach of leaving the HRF at port would mean the time spent on the HRV would significantly increase risk to the divers – having the HRF on board allows immediate access for medical support and commencement of decompression within two hours of an incident.”
“Thrust Maritime is incredibly proud to have won the contract for this project – a project that will redefine the term ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practical) with respect to Hyperbaric Evacuation.”
Figure 2: Thrust Maritime THOR in a previous drill with Woodside