CPNL Engineering GmbH successfully completed a series of tests in the presence of customer NSW on January 6th in Nordenham Germany. The tests were conducted to provide sufficient evidence for taking the spreader beam and articulated pipes for cable joint activities offshore.
It is the first time that CPNL engineered a product including German Lloyd certification based on a concept. Thanks to a structured development process this concept was realized within 2 months. Currently, the industry relies on an acoustic solution, which is based on electronics. The distinguished compressed-air solution provided by CPNL, which is unique, will ease the release of the joint and change the risk profile in a positive way. The system will even release automatically in the worst case scenario, where an acoustic system would require diver activity.
All calculated forces on the spreader beam and the articulated pipe 300-333 were in accordance with the customers’ expectations. It was requested to over-engineer the product in order to anticipate on unforeseen events. Therefore, scenarios were tested with all 10 chains up to only 2 chains linking the spreader beam and the cable joint, cable and bend restrictors.
“It has been an absolute challenge to work from concept to product,” Marloes Tuk (business development manager) explained. “We started early November, knowing that time was running short, and worked steadily with our manufacturing partners towards the delivery at December 17th including certification. The result is an optimal product, which is in line with the needs of our customer. “
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Press release, January 8, 2014; Image: cpnl