Our cable handling systems are among the most reliable on the market and over the years have become the industry standard. We work closely with customers to design the ships aft deck, and tailor the equipment fit to the exact requirement, using innovative systems and components designed for efficiency, reliability and long service life.
Previously, Rolls-Royce provided UT-series ship designs for seismic vessels, together with their main propulsion, manoeuvring and control systems.
Odim had developed and manufactured the special winches and other equipment needed for handling streamer arrays, as well as equipment for bottom seismic surveys.
Now, Rolls-Royce can offer complete solutions including vessel design; or alternatively integrated systems and products separately, as is the case with most of the company’s range.
The product portfolio for seismic vessels has been expanded to include; Electromagnetic Systems (EM), Ocean Bottom Cable Systems (OBC) and Ocean Bottom Node Systems (OBN).
The new equipment range includes the winches and fairleads for deploying and recovering the reflected from sub-seabed geological features handling systems for the sound sources that produce the echoes and the innovative control systems that allow winches to be operated and synchronised with the minimum of risk to the deck crew.
What to do next...
Rolls-Royce offer complete automated handling systems for seismic vessels.
Click on a product for more information.
Streamer system
The hydraulic or electric driven Streamer System typically consist of Streamer Winch, Spooling Device and Tow Point (with Fairlead Block), the system is automated and remotely operated and ensures safe and efficient handling.
Source-handling systems
The Source Handling System is intended to pick up the gun-arrays from sea level and bring it on board a vessel, both for flexible and rigid source.
Both Source Handling Systems are automated and remotely operated in order to achieve safe and efficient handling.
Key benefits:
- Safe and gentle source handling and storing
- Less man handling
- Less space required
- Flexible
- Adapts to various types of arrays
Wide tow system
The Wide Tow System typically consists of Wide Tow Winch, Spooling Device, Overboard Sheave and Deflector Handling Davit. Our Wide Tow Systems are designed to handle all industry standard Deflectors in a safe and efficient way.
Auxiliary system
The Auxiliary System consist of various types of equipment that complements the main systems, the auxiliary equipment can be delivered as a system and be integrated in the Control System or delivered as standalone units. The system comprises the following units:
- Auxiliary Winches
- Storage Winches
- Spread Rope Winches
- Spooling Racks
- HP Air Manifold
- Rope/Wire Blocks
- Various types of Floats
- Handling Booms
- Transverse Multi Purpose Winches
- Moving Vessel Profiler
- Hydraulic Power Units with C&F Unit
Streamer lines
Features
- Hydraulic or AC-driven
- Gentle, safe and efficient deployment and recovery
Integrated crane solutions
Offshore cranes
Our offshore cranes are designed for the unique challenges of offshore operations. They provide optimal balance between lifting heavy weights and energy efficiency.
Lifting range: 400 TM – 2,000 TM
- FPSO
- Platforms and rigs
- Subsea vessels
Cargo rail cranes
The cargo rail crane is designed to achieve safer operations and more efficient logistics on deck. Its flexible and robust construction allows the operators to work continuously through rough weather conditions, offering a large operating radius at full load capacity along the railway. Additional tugger winch and handling tools for both fibre rope and pipe handling, makes it ideal for a large variety of offshore deck operations.
Lifting range: Up to 150 TM
- Multi purpose vessels
- Construction vessels
- Light well intervention vessels
Deflector-handling systems
The ODIM Deflector Handling Davit consists of a base frame mounted on wheel suspensions which make the frame able to move from vessel side towards centre. The transverse movement is done by two hydraulic motors with planetary gears acting as a pinion and rack system.
An A-frame is mounted on top of the base frame. The A-frame can be tilted from horizontal position out to an 116° outboard angle. The pivot movement is done by two hydraulic cylinders. The A-frame is equiped with two hydraulic winches with each SWL 10 T. Each winch are able to lift the fully weight of the door.
Normally the weight of the door will be divided equally between the two winches. The rope/wire is routed from the winch over a stationary sheave in top of the A-frame towards a hinged sheave before the rope enters the door termination.
The sheave hinge enables the wire/tow to follow the direction of the rope as the door lives the davit and submerges. The sheaves are designed to let a 10 T SWL G-Hook go through.
Key benefits
- Safe and gentle handling of the deflector
- Safe and easy maintenance and repair
- Minor structural impact to the vessel
Fairleads
A Unique Fairlead Mechanism for Cable Handling
This space-saving cable guidance device has fast become the standard on multi-streamer seismic vessels, with applications on surface and submarine towed array systems and for specialized offshore, cable-laying, and ROV requirements.
Proper handling of a marine cable is often underrated. Yet vessel downtime and cable replacement resulting from damage can be extremely expensive. Whether it is tough wire rope, complex electro-optical cable, or delicate oil-filled streamer, the service life of a cable depends directly on the guidance components of its overboarding system.
If these do not address the cable’s physical characteristics and limitations, and the nature of its application, rapid deterioration and failure of the cable can result.
The importance of the handling system and the high cost of cable failure is not new. Pulleys of various sizes were used in ancient Roman derricks. The cables of more recent sailing ships were reeled off large capstans and paid-out through flared hawse holes to prevent damage to the manila fibres.
There are few fundamental differences between these beginnings and some contemporary solutions to cable overboarding, such as the bellmouth (a fixed, trumpet-shaped guide) and the sheave (basically a pulley).
Moving vessel profilers
Features
- CTD measurement while in seismic operation
- Free fall sensor, with on-line recording in complete depth range
- Self-contained unit
Almost every new seismic vessel launched in the world today has an ODIM system for swift, gentle handling of its streamer systems.
Accurate data collection is accomplished without the need to stop the vessel or employ a chase boat to perform TS (CTD) dips. Non-geological differences in collected data can be minimised at the acquisition stage.
Control systems
Even after years of experience in creating high-end automated handling solutions for offshore vessels, we constantly strive to improve our products by implementing new and better technology for safer and more efficient deepwater operations. It is highly important for us to take part in shaping the future of the subsea industry and absolutely necessary to still remain a leading supplier in the market.
Our automated handling solutions include fully integrated control systems, providing operational system features and safety features such as speed control, anti-spin and slip control (CTCU), rope management, anti-collision control and active heave compensation. The control system covers applications from a single winch to highly complex automated handling systems.
The automated handling systems can either be controlled from an operator chair within an integrated control cabin or from a dedicated control room. The control system is designed and manufactured according to relevant rules and regulations and the highest industry standards related to HSE and human machine interface.
Main features
- Operator panel in a dedicated control room for handling systems such as LARS for ROV
- Own high-end cabin and operator chair for cranes and module handling systems
- Radio remotes for on deck operations of handling systems and smaller cranes
- Graphic user interface with detailed system status information, monitoring, trending and alarm handling
Our complete system deliveries include fully integrated control systems, providing manoeuvring monitoring and safety features. One provider secures easy interfacing for installation and service.
Reliable solutions
Our innovative, automated handling systems are amongst the most reliable on the market. Over the years, they have become accepted as industry standards.
We deliver them as complete systems to customers’ operations. Our equipment simply works when you need it. This is part of our focus on providing reliability for our customers.
Technological leadership
We are involved throughout the value chain of seismic systems and are engaged early in the design of handling systems.
We collaborate closely with customers to design the entire ship’s aft deck, developing comprehensive solutions to the specified needs of each vessel.
Our automated handling concepts are made up of unique components, all of which are designed and delivered by us.
Cutting-edge solutions
The result is cutting-edge solutions that strengthen the efficiency of the vessel – and create a safer ship for the crew.
For example, our control system, a result of decades of experience in developing such systems, allows operators to direct and synchronise all winches, streamers and auxiliary equipment by remote-control.
This user- friendly system, which features automated spooling, reduces the need for risky manual handling on the aft deck.
What to do next...
In the early part of 2011 Rolls-Royce won a £20 million order from Chinese conglomerate Sinopec to design and equip a specialist seismic research vessel. When operational it will carry out detailed surveys of the seabed to identify oil and gas reserves.
The vessel, a UT 830 CD, will be able to operate worldwide and will be the first of its type to be equipped with a package of Rolls-Royce handling systems for seismic equipment.
The contract includes efficient power and propulsion systems and a range of advanced automated handling systems for seismic equipment.
Rolls-Royce has a growing presence in the subsea and seismic technology markets, and during the last three months, inclusive of this contract, the Group has secured seismic orders totalling more than £50 million.
During research missions, the vessel will tow up to 14 cables, or ‘streamers’, each 10 kilometres long. Seismic waves are sent deep into the seabed and the reflected waves are detected by hydrophones spread along the network of streamers.
This data is then used to give a detailed 3D profile of the geological features, including the location of oil and gas, often thousands of meters below sea level.
Conducting seismic research requires a powerful and stable vessel, which provides extensive endurance, with enough stores and fuel for 70 days at sea. Seismic surveys involve criss-crossing large sections of the seabed, at low speed, often requiring several weeks of continuous operation.
Shanghai Shipyard Co will build the vessel for Shanghai Offshore Petroleum Geophysical Corporation (part of the Sinopec organisation), with delivery scheduled for 2013.
What to do next...
The booming business in the offshore sector has created a high demand for crew expertise. We have strengthened our service and training programme, in order to transfer knowledge to users within our customer's organisations.
Our service team has extensive experience and can solve problems or make improvements and repairs on-site, often within 24hrs.
We offer tailored service agreements and training programmes:
- Equipment service and maintenance
- Crew training
- Spare parts
- Upgrading
What to do next...
