Submarine Manufacturing & Products Limited

Divers Deployment ‘A’ Frames and Winch Package

1.             ‘A’ Frame Assembly C/w Hydraulic Luffing Cylinders

The structural base frame and vertical ‘A’ Frame assembly is of a robust steel construction. The “A” Frame section can be fully retracted and folded back to reduce dimensions and allow for transport by convention flat bed truck or within a 20ft standard shipping container.

The “A” Frame section is moved from the inboard stowed position to the outboard launch position by Hydraulic Luffing Cylinders. The hydraulic luffing cylinders are controlled and operated from a central control point on the “A” Frame base, where all the individual proportional control valves are located, including the controls for both winches. The individual proportional control valves where applicable are fitted with internal motor spools which give excellent control during operation of the winches

The hydraulic cylinders are fitted with fail safe load holding counterbalance valves, to protect against hydraulic pressure failure during operation. The pivot points on the “A” Frame assembly are fitted with Stainless Steel grease nipples for lubrication purposes.

The ‘A’ frame head / crossbeam is fitted with a fixed central sheave assembly to accommodate the dive basket none rotating winch wire. A further fixed sheave is positioned on the crossbeam to accommodate the clump weight winch wire, which is also double reaved through the clump weight, and terminated on a Padeye Stop End also located on the crossbeam. The two lifting sheaves on the crossbeam assembly are fitted with Stainless Steel grease nipples for lubrication purposes.

An electrical top limit switch is installed adjacent to the central fixed sheave which will trip the HPU in the event the dive basket is raised above its normal operating parameter. This additional safety feature protects the basket occupants and equipment.

The “A” Frame base is fitted with two vertical double opening gates at the over-boarding end. These gates are closed after the dive basket is moved to the outboard launch position to ensure the safety of the deck crew. The gates are fitted with two 316 Stainless Steel umbilical roller devices to assist with umbilical handling during deployment and recovery operations of the divers basket and umbilicals. Each roller device is fitted with 3 individual SS rollers, to ensure the umbilical minimum bend radius is not compromised.

2.             Two Diver Basket

This is a conventional 2 Diver Basket with a central Primary lift padeye and a designated Secondary lift point. The top and 3 Sides of the Basket are enclosed with 316 stainless steel mesh up to approximately waist height to protect the basket occupants.

The dive basket is equipped with both entrance and exit points to allow access from the “A” frame base and diver exit through the basket when in water. The Basket entrance and exit points are provided with a stainless Steel chain and karabiner or hinged gate, to enhance diver safety during deployment and recovery of the dive basket.

The basket is also fitted with individual hinged Stainless Steel seats for two divers and two onboard emergency HP breathing air cylinders.

The basket is fitted with an internal overhead padeye, to assist with unconscious Diver emergency recovery, if required.

The Basket is fitted with Clump Weight wire guides for attachment of the clump weight wires, in order to stabilise rotation of the basket when deployed subsea. In addition the wire guides locate and stabilise the dive basket when the clump weight system is used as a means of secondary recovery of the dive basket.

All bolting is 316 Stainless Steel.

3.             Clump Weight

This is a robust prefabricated steel Clump Weight which allows the Clump Weight wire to be double reeved through two wire rope sheaves fabricated and installed within the clump weight structure positioned to suit the dive basket clump weight wire guides.

The position of the sheaves allows the free travel of the Clump Weight, which in the event of a failure of the dive basket winch allows emergency recovery of the 2 Diver Basket utilising the clump weight and clump weight winch as the secondary means of recovery.

The sheaves on the clump weight assembly are fitted with Stainless Steel grease nipples for lubrication purposes

4.             Primary Basket Winch (Manriding Winch) Hydraulic

This is a 1.5 tonne safe working load manriding winch. The winch is fitted with a dual brake system which are one internal multi disc brake and one counterbalance brake valve. The winch is elevated on a structural plinth above the base frame structure at the opposite end of the skid from the ‘A’ Frame Boom. With the winch being elevated this leaves the base structure area free of any obstructions, and makes for a much safer area for the working divers. The Primary Winch will be fitted with a suitably rated non rotating wire rope with a safety factor of 8:1. The wire rope length will be a minimum of 85 Meters unless otherwise specified. The winch is fitted with 316 Stainless Steel drum guards for operator protection. The Winch hydraulic pressure, return and case drain lines are piped to and from the proportional control valve manifold in 316 Stainless steel piping and fittings.

5.             Secondary Basket Winch (Manriding Winch) Hydraulic

This is a 1.0 tonne safe working load manriding winch. The winch will be fitted with dual brakes which are one internal multi disc brake and one counterbalance brake valve. The winch will be mounted on the opposite end of the skid from the ‘A’ Frame Boom. The Secondary Winch will be fitted with a suitably rated wire rope with a safety factor of 8:1. The wire rope length will be a minimum of 160 Meters unless otherwise specified. The clump weight winch is the designated secondary means of recovery of the dive basket, in the event of failure of the primary basket winch.

The winch is fitted with 316 Stainless Steel drum guards for operator protection. The Winch hydraulic pressure, return and case drain lines are piped to and from the proportional control valve manifold in 316 Stainless steel piping and fittings.

6.             Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU)

The Hydraulic Power Unit is installed within a suitable Crash Frame, with Forklift Pockets & fully Certified Lifting Pad Eyes. The unit is painted with a two part epoxy paint system, final color mid blue RAL 5010

This hydraulic powerpack is fitted with twin hydraulic oil reservoirs each of 200 Liter capacity, complete with return filter, sight glass, filler breather, and inspection / cleaning hatch in each tank section. The hydraulic power unit is provided with two Variable Displacement hydraulic Pumps and dual frequency electric motors on Anti Vibration Mounts, which gives in-built 100% redundancy for primary and secondary operational requirements in the event of failure.

The HPU is equipped with a single Stack Valve Assembly With single operating Handle To Change Over from the primary pump system To The secondary Standby pump System .

The HPU hydraulic fluid is seawater cooled and is fitted with 2 x individual Shell and Tube Type. Seawater Heat Exchangers, one for each tank section of the oil reservoir.

Hydraulic Pipe work and Fittings will be in 316 Stainless Steel where possible.

3 x suitably rated hydraulic hoses CW QC’S are provided for Interconnecting between the HPU and the “A” Frame proportional control valve manifold.

The HPU Electrical Dual Star Delta Starter Box is provided within a 316  Stainless Steel Cabinet, Suitable for a  Marine deck environment, mounted and wired within the HPU crash frame power unit, and assembled with Marine Specification Cable. The box will include a Primary duty and secondary standby switch with start stop, pump running lamps for each pump.

The panel is also be outfitted with the following additional items:

2 x Emergency Stop Button

2 x Manual Override button For Limit Switch.

2 x Integration contacts For Diver Basket Limit Switch (Terminals/Contacts CW Built in Cut off Relays inside Electrical Box)

1 x 60 Amp 440 Volt 3 Phase Plug for connection to the vessel power supply system CW 5 Meter Electrical Cable.

We can also provide bespoke stystems to your needs

Our Diver Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) have the following features:

• ‘A’ Frame Assembly C/w Hydraulic Luffing Cylinders
• Two Diver Basket
• Clump Weight
• Primary Basket Winch (Manriding Winch) Hydraulic
• Secondary Basket Winch (Manriding Winch) Hydraulic
• Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU)

Our Diver Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) have the following technical specification:

Depth Capability: 75 mtrs

Design: Lloyds Register Rules for Offshore lifting

Certification: IMCA DO23 Design & IMCA DO18

Basket / Cage Cylinders: 2 x 50 Litre @ 300 Bar

Length: 3500 mm

Width: 2100 mm

Height: 3690 mm

Weight: 4800 kgs (HPU Not Included)

HPU Electrical Requirements: 380-440 V 3PH 50/60 Hz

Oil Capacity: 2 x 200 Litre (Per Twin Tank)

Oil Delivery: 90 litres / min @ 1450 RPM max

Hydraulic Oil Cooling: 2 x Tube and Shell Seawater Oil Coolers

Hydraulic Working Pressure: 100 Bar

Main Lift Wire: 13 mm dia Length 80 metres Anti Rotational

Clump Weight Wire: 13 mm dia Length 160 metres Anti Rotational