KEY FEATURES:
Client: Boskalis
Location: Stord, Norway
Period: December 2017

PROJECT
KOTUG’s Training & Consultancy division was involved in the simulator sessions held at Marin in Wageningen and provided the Tow master during the transport and the actual float over and the mating of the Astaa Hansteen topside and the submerged spar.

SITUATION
The Topside transfer location in Ølen was located approximately 16NM away from the Float over and Mating location at Digernessundet. The unique character of this job is that the topside was placed on two semi submergible vessels to act as a catamaran to sail over the submerged spar.

APPROACH
Simulation & manual.
In complex situations KOTUG standard procedure is to start with extensive simulations to look at the situation from all angles. During the sessions at Marin the transport was extensively simulated to the extreme with all parties involved, This included the Tow Master, Tug Captains and project management teams.  After these sessions KOTUG provides her client with a complete manual with recommendations, limitations, and procedures could be made and was provided to the client.

OPERATION
During the transport one of experienced Tow Masters was in charge and directed the designated tugs to the project, where he manoeuvred the whole assembly over the spar. Because all the Tug Masters were involved in the simulator sessions everybody was already familiar with each other, the procedures, and the communication drills.

KEY FEATURES:
Client: Allseas
Location: Europe
Period: Ongoing

PROJECT
The Pioneering Spirit is the world’s largest vessel by gross tonnage. It was designed for the single-lift installation and removal of large oil and gas platforms and the installation of record-weight pipelines.

SITUATION
One of the wide range of executed projects is the removal of Shell’s 24,200-tonne Brent Delta topsides. Located in the Brent field, approximately 186 km (100 nautical miles) off the northeast coast of Shetland, the iconic platform sat on a three-legged gravity-based structure in 140 m of water.

APPROACH
We ensure that one of our Tow Masters is always present during the HAZIDs for these projects and actively  provides towage related advice. Most of the times our Tow Master is also involved in the selection, type and the number of required tugs.

OPERATION
The KOTUG Tow master maneuvered the barge Iron Lady, between the operational legs of the Pioneering Spirit, after which the Brent Delta Topside was lowered on deck of the Iron Lady. Our Tow master maneuvered the Barge with topside free of the Pioneering Spirit and delivered the loaded Iron Lady to Able, UK’s Seaton Port yard, Teesside, for disposal. We were also involved in all the movements with the specially designed barge Bumblebee for commissioning and decommissioning the stinger, which is used for pipelaying operations.