Technology in Brief

Countering legionella outbreak

Operators need to be more vigilant to prevent outbreaks of legionnaires' disease on their installations, says Yvonne Putzig of E.C.T. Offshore Service. Legionella can have a devastating effect offshore, as respiratory infections spread three times as quickly in an environment in which people live in close proximity than in a typical onshore situation.

E.C.T., which specializes in designing, installing, and maintaining offshore water treatment systems, was last year called in to eradicate legionella from a rig in the Dutch sector. Its preferred method involves disinfecting the water systems with chlorine dioxide. Being acidic, chlorine dioxide is effective at penetrating the slime in which the bacteria thrive. Such an approach could not be applied, however, in Norway, where chlorine dioxide is banned on the grounds that it could pose risks in drinking water.

Clear policies should be adopted on combating legionella, Putzig says. At present, different countries take various approaches. In the Netherlands, operators have to take a specific legionella sample once a month, while in Norway, no particular action is required. She would like to see the North Sea countries introduce preventive legislation, as Sweden is now doing.

For more information, contact Yvonne Putzig, E.C.T. Offshore Systems. Tel +46 3153 0040, fax +46 3153 0045. [email protected], www.ectoffshore.se

Fireproof/waterproof doors

Electrically operated doors have been introduced by Hellbergs International that are both fireproof and semi-watertight. Both hinged and sliding versions are available. All of the company's doors are approved and certified to the latest applicable standards.

Electrical operation offers the benefits of ease of installation and minimal noise, especially compared with a pneumatically operated system, which also requires an air supply, says Lennart Hellberg. Control systems are provided by Hellbergs' German partner AP Marine. Battery back-up is provided in case of an interruption in normal power supplies.

The doors are rated up to A60 in terms of fire-resistance. Water tightness is achieved by locking them against rubber seals and steering guides. Although defined as semi-watertight, they permit only a small leakage, being rated as watertight against a four-meter head of water. An important safety feature is a safety strip fitted to the front edge of the door. This is a steel profile with a sensor attached that detects the presence of objects such as fingers in the door-gap, and alerts the computer controlling the door operation to open it.

For more information contract Lennart Hellberg, Hellbergs International. Tel +46 522 665 666, fax +46 522 665 777, [email protected], www.hellbergs.com

Dalia mooring chain

Chain-maker Ramnäs has been hauling in new orders since it was restructured earlier this year. Its main contract awards this summer, since new Swedish owners took over, are:

• Mooring chains for Total's Dalia FPSO in Angola, ordered by main contractor Technip, calls for 1,500 tons of grade R4 chain of 108 mm and 114-mm diameter
• 340 tonnes of 81-mm diameter, QR 3S studless-type chain for the Sadra CALM buoy.
• 506 tons of 3-in. diameter grade R4 chain for Stena Drilling for the semisubmersible rig Stena Dee.

Ramnäs is also supplying 100 tons of grade 2 chain for mooring buoys for the UK's Ministry of Defense.

For more information contact Carina Andersson, Ramnäs Chain. Tel +46 220 22000, fax +46 220 35837, [email protected], www.ramnas.com

Airborne surveillance

Swedish Space Corp. has launched MSS 6000, a new generation of its maritime surveillance system, which is used for oil spill tracking, search and rescue, economic zone protection, fishery, and ship traffic control and ice patrol.

MSS 6000 includes new features such as improved sensor and sensor handling flexibility, integrated digital chart display, and reporting by satellite as well as conventional data link. Surveillance is performed using a range of sensors, including side-looking airborne radar (SLAR), infra-red/ultra-violet (IR/UV) scanners and photographic and video cameras.

Some of the MSS 6000 features are incorporated in a current delivery of two MSS 5000 systems to the Portuguese air force.

For more information contact Christer Colliander, Swedish Space Corporation. Tel +46 8627 6328, fax +46 898 7069, [email protected], www.ssc.se

Volvo extends engine range

Volvo Penta has extended its marine diesel engine range for the offshore sector through a recent agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The new range of engines, which provide high reliability and good fuel efficiency, are available with ratings up to 2,200 HP, compared with Volvo Penta's previous upper limit of 700 HP. The main application for the Mitsubishi engines in an offshore context is as generating sets for supply vessels. As such, they are supplied complete with generator and mounted on a base frame ready for installation. They can also be used as propulsion engines for smaller supply vessels, says Volvo Penta's Bertil Börjesson. Among the first deliveries were propulsion engines for M/S Peregrino and M/S Atrirado, two harbor tugs working in the Brazilian offshore sector.