A giant lift for 'Audacia'

Following the successful delivery of a new pipe lay system for Audacia, EB has just delivered a 500-tonne capacity Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM) handling system for the same vessel. The A-frame based system plays a key role in the installation of large diameter subsea pipelines, as it allows the safe, rapid and accurate installation of PLEMs weighing up to 120 tonnes.

"When delivering the pipeline handling system, we developed a close and productive working relationship with the Allseas project team. Not only did this contribute to the speed and quality of the work on the first project, but undoubtedly helped secure the award of this second sizeable contract." Dr Steve Agar, EB Commercial Director

The PLEM handling system was loaded onto a barge at the quay of EB's Hadrian Riverside facility on the Tyne. It has now been delivered to the Keppel shipyard in Rotterdam where a team of EB engineers will assist with its installation and commissioning.

Exceptionally buoyant

Our Sales and Marketing Team led by Toby Bailey has been very busy, and remarkably successful this year. The result is that EB has an unprecedented amount of new work on a number of projects, for delivery in 2008 and 2009. We have four major systems to design and construct in the next two years with a total value of about £50m, requiring the delivery of 4,500 tonnes of new equipment. To enable us to meet customer needs we are expanding on a number of fronts. We have been actively recruiting and now have 150 people working at EB, predominately graduate professional engineers. We have been able to add some excellent professionals to our talented and energetic team, expanding our technical, management and production capabilities. One of the real pleasures at EB is watching the development of talented and energetic people.

EB is now operating from three sites, our headquarters Broomhaugh House, Stocksfield Hall, a new office for 75 people situated two miles from Broomhaugh, and Hadrian Riverside where we lease 65,000ft² of workshop with large cranes, large doors and direct access to the Tyne for the shipping of large items. We have recently carried out a major upgrade to the facilities at Hadrian with a new 40 tonne crane, a machine shop and hydraulic and electrical clean rooms. HSE is very important as we expand our activities at EB. All members of staff have been issued with our in-house booklet 'Passport to Safety'. A safe operating environment is essential to our success.

It was a pleasure to be involved in the installation of the second wind turbine at Beatrice using the EB designed and built Bowtis system. The new NATO submarine rescue system PLARS also had its first at-sea trials earlier in the summer and the whole system is expected to be ready for service very soon. We have exciting times ahead offering challenge, opportunity and the real chance to excel in many ways and demonstrate Engineering Brilliance - EB.

Tony Trapp
Managing Director

I-Trencher Success for EB

Another recent addition to the EB project portfolio is the 85 tonne i Trencher being designed and built for Canyon Offshore, for high performance trenching in hard soil and deep waters.

The trencher is designed to reliably outperform existing trenching systems and can excavate a 2m deep trench using twin chain cutters. It is fitted with four heavy duty dredge pumps to remove spoil from the trench and can also be fitted with jetting swords if operating in appropriate soil conditions.

As a self propelled machine the trencher is ideal for infield work and tie backs (that are a feature of the North Sea) and will be supplied with an advanced EB handling system to allow safe launch and recovery in Sea State 5 conditions.

The project has benefited from EB's extensive experience in this field and also direct input from the operators at Canyon Offshore and their customer Subsea 7.

Renewables resurgence

EB's involvement in the growing offshore renewables sector continues. Back in July, the Beatrice Offshore Wind Turbine Installation System (BOWTIS) was used to install a second 5MW turbine adjacent to the Beatrice Platform.

"EB provided engineering support for the duration of this year's installation campaign and the equipment again performed faultlessly. EB continues to champion fully assembled turbine installation for future offshore wind projects." Martin Bingham, Senior Engineer

The success of this project and the key role played by EB, has not gone un-noticed by other developers - EB has recently completed studies to develop installation methodologies and equipment for not only offshore wind projects (including the Hywind project) but also tidal and wave devices.

EB's range of enabling technology for the Offshore Renewables sector also includes WaterBridge. Having been successfully proved in the oil and gas sector, EB is once again targeting the offshore wind sector.

New build plough for Saipem

EB is delighted to have been selected by Saipem to design and build the ultimate trenching plough system.

As an integral part of a new build trenching support vessel, the system will allow Saipem to offer its customers effective trenching of pipelines up to 1.55m in diameter, up to 2.5m below the seabed, in water depths of up to 1000m. The system comprises of two ploughs - PL3 the trenching plough and BPL3 the back fill plough.

"We were asked to design a trenching spread matched to the exceptional capabilities of their new build trenching support vessel - as such, PL3 will weigh in the region of 180 tonnes, be 22m long, have 100t capacity pipe handling equipment fore and aft, and be able to create a 2.5m deep trench. The control system will be built into the ship bridge module and this together with the use of buoyant control umbilical will greatly increase productivity in comparison to previous spreads." Mike Crosby, Senior Engineer

Delivery is due in summer 2008 and EB's quayside facilities will allow the equipment to be mobilised directly onto its support vessel.

EB launches consultancy service

Having established a strong and experienced team of engineers dedicated to designing, building and supplying elegant engineering solutions for the offshore environment, EB has launched an in house consultancy service, EBC.

The aim of the consultancy department is to leverage the experience and talent within EB to provide concise and high value engineering that will save its clients time and money.

"Our consultancy clients requirements range from concept design work to analysis and review of existing pieces of equipment - we have already undertaken work on preliminary deck layouts and a number of FEED (Front End Engineering Design) studies." Andrew Stevenson, Lead Consultant