Orga’s navaids light the way for new platform concept in Dutch North Sea

Orga Offshore, a leading global provider of high performance marine and aviation aids to navigation, has successfully commissioned its digital navaid system on an innovatively designed satellite gas platform, located in the North Sea about 50km off the Dutch coast. Stripped back to the bare necessities, the new minimum-facility gas platform will develop two marginal fields despite current gas prices. According to the operator, 650 million normal cubic metres of gas is expected to be recovered by 2022. The new platform concept consists of a standard design for the topsides combined with a modular jacket. In addition to the process facilities, the remotely controlled satellite is equipped with an emergency shelter for eight persons, a helicopter deck and a five-tonne crane. Power is generated by several wind turbines and solar panels. Due to the unique characteristics of the unmanned platform, a robust and reliable offshore marking and warning system with remote monitoring capabilities and very low power consumption was required. Orga supplied a complete aids to navigation system comprising a safe area digital navaid central control panel (DNCCP), explosion proof certified equipment containing LED marine lanterns, photocell, foghorn, fog detector, racon beacon, LED helideck perimeter lights and helideck flood lights. Once the system was installed at the fabrication yard, Orga began the commissioning process to verify and validate the equipment in cooperation with the operator’s engineering team. Commissioning took two days to complete. Réne Vas, International Surveyor Offshore at Orga, said: “We are very proud to be involved in this innovative project. The industry is working hard to reduce capital expenditure and operating costs in the sustained low oil and gas price environment and I am convinced that this revolutionary approach to platform design will help spur marginal field developments where fast, innovative, low cost solutions are required. “Adequately marking offshore installations is vital for vessel safety and the safety of the structure and personnel. Designed to lower the cost of ownership and with minimum-facility platforms very much in mind, Orga’s digital navaid system brings enhanced functionality to any hazardous and isolated location by providing full alarm, history and remote status monitoring capabilities for all Orga signalling solutions. In addition, our smart LED technology combines extremely low power consumption – suitable for wind, solar and battery operation ­ – with high light output and long operational life.” Orga’s navigational aids system requires minimal maintenance due to its robust technology, smart modular design and highly reliable components. It is also easy to upgrade existing older systems using Orga’s staged system replacement approach. Modules can be easily added, as and when required, to operate and control all Orga beaconing equipment. Orga’s fully integrated platform marking and warning system complies with International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Recommendation O–139 on The Marking of Man-Made Offshore Structures as well as US, UK and Dutch requirements. Orga has supplied and successfully commissioned more than 200 digital modular central control panels including touchscreen facilities with associated lights, foghorns, helideck lights to major oil companies, drilling contractors and owners of support platforms.