Vertech is preparing to take delivery of its first specialist vessel as the company’s diving team enhances its capabilities for operations worldwide.
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Image from Vertech. |
The new 14.4m daughter craft, which will be one of a number built to support the firm’s growth, is due for delivery in early April and will feature a three-diver panel and state of the art monitoring equipment. The vessel has been designed for diving operations in 1.6m significant wave height and built to order in Cape Town, South Africa. In recent weeks it completed sea trials to gain MCA category two approval.
It is the second significant milestone for the Vertech team, which was formed last year under the global diving umbrella before its subsequent rebranding.
The vessel’s sea trials follow the completion of testing of Vertech’s first containerized Nitrox dive system and industry recognition for its commitment to the highest standards of safety and competence. A second dive system, which will be fully ATEX zone II rated, is also to be introduced in May of this year.
Vertech, part of the Global Energy Group and already well established in Australia, was launched in the UK earlier this year with a US$7.4 million (£5million) investment to support inspection, repair, maintenance and life of field extension solutions through innovation in rope access and alternative access solutions. The new diving capability is seen as a vital component of the integrated offering, which has been driven by demand for efficiency in the sector.
The equipment, enabling the team to provide a mix of nitrox diving services, was put through rigorous trials at the National Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen, as the growing Vertech diving team readies itself for work in the North Sea and worldwide.
Prospective clients were invited to attend the trials and view the system in operation, with the demonstration utilizing the center’s UKAS approved test facility.
The successful trials and the completion of the company’s extensive dive manual, governing all of its future operations, earned Vertech accreditation from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to mark the final stage in preparations for subsea work.
IMCA confirmed the accreditation after a three-day audit conducted over the winter. DNV GL 9001 accreditation has already been gained.
“The IMCA accreditation is recognition of the hard work by the entire company in establishing the diving team. A tremendous amount of ground has been covered and we are delighted to be in position to mobilize,” says Alan Melia, offshore diving manager.
“The successful sea trials of the daughter craft are also vital. The vessel will give us the capability of carrying out diving operations for a full day without re-charging gas cylinders. That is an important differentiator for us and provides us with the first purpose built daughter craft in the UK for diving operations.
Vertech the vessel has been designed to provide stability in 1.6m significant wave height, which is a huge improvement on the modified craft which have traditionally been used for operations.
The company has also commissioned a transfer craft, to move personnel between the daughter craft and the mother ship. It will feature the biggest single davit load and recovery system ever developed by the specialist manufacturer responsible for that equipment.
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