Offshore Efficiency with the TDavit & Porta Base Counterbalance
Company Overview
EM&I Alliance is a globally recognised provider of Asset Integrity Management, Inspection and specialised Repair & Maintenance services to the Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy industries. With over 38 years of experience, EM&I Alliance supports operators worldwide by delivering cost-effective yet innovative solutions that enhance safety, extend asset life and minimise operational disruption. Known for their expertise in offshore environments, EM&I Alliance use their advanced engineering knowledge to help customers maintain integrity and performance of their critical infrastructure.
The Background
EM&I provides repair and maintenance services to the oil, gas and renewable energy industries. The company regularly launches subsea Remotely Operated Vehicles [ROVs] and ancillary equipment from offshore installations and lowers them up to 100ft below the surface to carry out inspection and repair work via an umbilical cord.
The Challenge
With an ROV and ancillary equipment weighing around 150kg, EM&I typically used temporary scaffolding to provide an anchor point for a lifting and lowering arm. This could be difficult and time consuming to assemble, as well as being heavy and bulky to transport and move around the rig or platform. The company wanted a flexible lowering solution which was light and portable enough to be transported by helicopter or supply vessel, but which still had the necessary goods WLL to accommodate the weight of the ROV. And, because it would be used in some of the UK’s most extreme environments, it also needed the equipment to be durable and corrosion resistant.
Strategy & Approach
EM&I Alliance approached Reid for a cost-effective solution and we recommended a Double Winched TDavit and Porta Base Counterbalance. With a 600kg goods WLL this system met the needs of EM&I Alliance. Supplied by our channel partner LHR Marine UK, this solution is lightweight and practical, easy to transport and assemble on site and overcomes the problem of how to anchor a TDavit when no fixed socket is available.
The T-Davit features sheaves at both ends of the beam, allowing the winch rope or cable to be routed to suit the application. Combined with a 1.2m working radius and 270° rotation when mounted on the Porta Base Counterbalance, the system provides the flexibility needed to safely launch and retrieve ROVs between the platform and the sea with minimal repositioning.
A key element of the solution is the EN795:2012-certified Porta Base Counterbalance, which delivers a lightweight, portable foundation without the need for permanent fixings. Consisting of just five main components and a folding weight basket that accepts easy-to-handle 20kg weights, the system can be assembled in minutes without tools. Integrated swivel-lock castors simplify movement around the platform, while adjustable feet provide a stable and secure setup, even on uneven surfaces.
Both elements are manufactured by Reid from anodised and powder coated aluminium for maximum corrosion resistance.
“We have been really impressed by the ease of assembly and usability of the TDavit and Porta Base Counterbalance combination. We would certainly buy more for similar offshore work”
- David Mortlock, Chief Technical Officer, EM&I Alliance
