SSI working in triplicate on rig lifeboat capsules

Survival Systems International UK (SSI) has completed the refurbishment of three 50-man lifeboat capsules from the Global Sante Fe Galaxy rig at its UK base at Great Yarmouth.

All three were transported together by road from Scotland to be worked on simultaneously in Norfolk while the North Sea rig was being revamped in the Nigg fabrication yard on the Cromarty Firth.

“We were delighted to be given the work by Transocean, the world’s largest drilling contractor, and even happier to report that we finished on schedule within a tight deadline,” said Andy Dickson, SSI UK’s operations manager.

“It’s meant the workshop has been particularly busy with all three capsules being worked on alongside another major contract.”

Every component from each of the capsules was thoroughly checked through SSI’s ‘traffic light’ assessment – green for OK, yellow for potential refurbishment and red for replacement. Safety testing was also incorporated into the six-week project.

“It was ideal for us to get the job as the capsules were all built by our parent company in the United States so we were very familiar with their design, equipment and layout,” said Andy.

The GSF Galaxy, a harsh environment deepwater jack-up platform, is undergoing a three-month refurbishment, the first oil rig for nine years at the Nigg yard.