The MDL Reel Drive System (RDS) was mobilised onto the Normand Clipper as part of the Total Ballindalloch project (formerly called Maersk Maclure).

The RDS tower assembly includes two towers, four lengths of 12m skidding track and two lengths of 7m skidding track which are bolted to a grillage to distribute the loading onto the deck.

The project has utilised three reels for deploying new product over two trips.

The product has been deployed around a left turn bollard and through a 30 Te tensioner on an HLS over the port side, sequentially from the forward, middle and aft reels. As such only a nominal load is seen by the tower drive system. Towers have be engaged in the forward
(full) reel for transit to the field and aft (empty) reel for transit to port.

Reels used during the project, from fore to aft:
10.66 m, 10.66 m and 10.66 m for the first trip,
weighing (when full): 279 Te, 278 Te and 278 Te respectively.
10.66 m, 10.66 m and 9.6 m for the second trip.
weighing (when full): 270 Te, 284 Te and 125 Te respectively.

Navatech has been involved in the seafastening & design/check of the following items:

– RDS seafastening
– Additional 20Te Pulling padeye onto a subsea clumpweight
– HLS 5Te deck handling winch seafastening + additional padeye with sheave block onto the HLS;
– 30Te SWL A&R winch;
– 5Te SWL Deck winch
– UTA lifting beam
– Turning bollard

(Photos courtesy Rever Offshore)