Recognised global experts in marine personnel transfer, Reflex Marine, highlighted its plans to increase company activity in Mexico during a recent Mexican presidential visit to Aberdeen.
Reflex Marine’s business development director, David Brittan, met with President Felipe Calderon and Minister of Energy, Georgina Martinez, at an oil and gas exhibition at the city’s town house. Recent legal reform has increased the opportunities for foreign companies to work in Mexico. This is largely due to national oil company, Pemex, being given greater autonomy for contracting work to domestic and foreign organisations.
With around 600 workers being transferred by vessel to Mexico’s offshore rigs each day, Reflex Marine’s Frog crew transfer device could greatly increase operational safety. It has a proven track record across the globe, being used to perform millions of safe transfers and has played a vital role in numerous medical emergencies and evacuations. In comparison to traditional basket transfers, the Frog increases passenger protection against four key risks; falls, heavy landings, side impacts and immersion. The Frog has the largest operating envelope of any crane transfer device, which reduces the risk of shut-downs in poor weather.
Pemex is the world’s largest offshore oil producer and the company is looking to improve worker safety across its many assets. Reflex, supported by its Mexican partner Ginemex, has already shipped two of the six-passenger Frog’s to Mexico, which were used for demonstrations in Cuidad del Carmen. Presently, discussions are ongoing with Pemex to conclude arrangements for field trials of two units as part of an evaluation for wider roll-out.
David Brittan said: “Reflex Marine see Mexico as a perfect opportunity to demonstrate that safety improvements can be delivered in a region where marine transfer is widely used. We are excited about the trials and confident that Mexican offshore workers will appreciate the comfort and protection afforded by the Frog’s design. We also believe that Pemex will see an economic benefit, through the use of more reliable and weather capable equipment.”