Protea is well-known globally for delivering high-quality offshore handling equipment, including cranes, winches and launch and recovery systems.
Over the past 15 years, it has supplied a range of pneumatically driven winches, predominantly for use on offshore drilling rigs and floating production units. The Protea pneumatic drive system ensures precise and reliable load control and that the equipment can be used in hazardous areas as per ATEX regulations. Previous projects include a coiled tubing handling system comprising air winch, transport trolley and control system that was installed on the Aseng FPSO currently on charter to Noble Energy.
Building on this successful track record, Protea has recently developed a self-propelled transport trolley with integrated pneumatic drive system.
"A self-propelled trolley is a much more versatile solution as it can be used at multiple locations, requires less deck space and is simpler to commission as there is no need to install a separate winch system complete with tow lines," said Tomasz Poprawa, project manager.
"The new trolley incorporates our proven pneumatic drive system and can transit loads of up to 50t at an average speed of 12m/min," he added.
The first unit is currently completing a programme of extensive testing at Protea’s state-of-the-art production facility in southern Poland.
"Pneumatic drive systems are one of Protea’s core technologies and this new product demonstrates our continued commitment to develop new products that will offer operational efficiencies to our customers, saving them time and money offshore," commented Tomasz Paszkiewicz, managing director.