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Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/377971
24 st / September 2014 www.sea-technology.com completed on time and exactly as planned for, to the total satisfac- tion of the client. Conclusion IMCA compliance matters be- cause if an incident occurs where an air lift bag not in full compli- ance with IMCA guidelines fails and causes damage, injury or, at worst, fatality, then the liabilities could be enormous. One of the frst questions to be asked would be: "How were you assured that the bags you used were ft for purpose?" Only using bags that can demonstrate full compliance with IMCA standards is the start- ing point for being able to ensure that the air lift bags being used are ft for purpose. Ongo- ing inspection and servicing in line with manufacturer's guidelines and local regulations are also essential, as is correct usage of the bags as laid out in the IMCA D-016 document. n these tests with fying colors, and with measured overload strength to spare, so their clients can be completely assured that Seafex ALBs will invert to design, rather than surfacing at high speed and injuring or damaging whatever may get in their way or, in an ab- solute worst-case scenario, getting caught up in the thrusters of their support vessel and seeing it go off station with divers still in the wa- ter. Mooring Retrieval In September 2012, Unique Seafex worked with Lundin to en- sure the safe and most effcient re- trieval of the FPSO Ikdam's moor- ings as it moved on from the Oudna feld offshore Tunisia. Following a number of detailed technical discussions be- tween Lundin and Seafex, it was determined that a com- bination of 41 different-sized parachute-style ALBs up to 50-tonne capacities needed to be installed on the moorings to reduce their tension to something manageable. The deck- mounted linear winch was rated to 450 tonnes, but because the three mooring anchors were extremely well embedded in the sandy seabed, the effective tension on the chafe chain would have increased by an estimated 1.5 to two times the original 400 tonnes without the use of ALBs. Under the onboard supervision of a Seafex technician, the job was Chris Sparrow graduated with a B.A. honors degree from the University of Durham, UK in 1995 and has worked in international sales and marketing ever since. He has specialized in offshore fotation since 2002, when he joined Fendercare to front up their Hippo Marine solid buoyancy division. He joined Unique Seafex as global sales manager in March 2013. "IMCA compliance matters because if an incident occurs where an air lift bag not in full compliance with IMCA guidelines fails and causes damage, injury or, at worst, fatality, then the liabilities could be enormous."