SMP Builds Air/Gas Diving Spread for GloMar Subsea

Preston-based Submarine Manufacturing & Products (SMP) informed it has manufactured and supplied a bespoke air/gas diving spread unit for GloMar Subsea.

SMP was contracted to design, develop and manufacture a fully-certified 20ft containerised recompression support chamber, alongside a 20ft all-inclusive machinery and mixed gas dive control, to support GloMar Subsea’s offshore diving activities.

The project was designed, fabricated, painted, assembled and tested at SMP’s site in Preston, Lancashire.

The air/gas diving spread comprised of a twin basket launch and recovery system (LARS) fitted with depth monitoring, a modified and containerised 1.8m DDC complete with skid mounted gas storage and a bespoke mixed gas dive control and machinery container.

The project, from initial conception to final acceptance testing, was delivered in 120 days with a further 2 days of in-house familiarisation training for the customer prior to shipping.

Ross Connolly, sales manager at SMP, said: “It is vitally important that we work closely with our customers at all stages from enquiry through to completion to ensure that we design and supply exactly what they need. This concept can also be taken forward to include servicing and re-certification if required by the customer.”

The 1.8m ID recompression chamber was manufactured with gas storage beneath and a weather proof maintenance access hatch to ensure the cylinders can be retrieved for periodical inspection. In addition, a remote control panel was installed adjacent to the chamber along with internal chamber CCTV cameras and a sophisticated decompression monitor.

The addition of the under Skid Gas Storage had the added benefit of removing the requirement for additional Gas Storage Quads or Low Pressure Compressors, thus reducing the overall deck foot print of the entire system.

Complying with GloMar’s requirements, the machinery area comprises of 2 x HP compressors, air storage quad and electrical distribution with vents and cooling extractor fans to expel the hot air generated by the compressors, as well as ensuring the machinery operates cool and efficiently.

The inbuilt air storage quad added the extra advantage of supplying the 3 Diver Mixed Gas Dive Panel with an additional reserve supply of breathing air for the divers in the water.

Rodger Weitzel, GloMar Subsea general manager, said: “We are very happy with the delivery of the dive spread, we have installed it already on one of our vessels (the GLOMAR WAVE) and will start working with it in the coming weeks.”

The Dive Control has also been fitted with a 3 diver Mixed Gas Dive Panel as well as a full height rack with the state of the art equipment for communications, diver monitoring and CCTV.

Ross Connolly added: “As the systems are used for offshore activities, they both require a DNV container with a system conforming to IMCA Guidelines.”

Furthermore, SMP joined forces with engineering and fabrication company WEC Group earlier this year as a way of combining each other’s engineering expertise and strengthening operations.

WEC Group specialise in the manufacture of a wide range of metal structures and welded assemblies including pressure vessels, rail gantries, armoured vehicle hulls and more.