Ihc Handling Systems News

Royal IHC (IHC) has integrated four of its business units – IHC Hydrohammer, IHC Handling Systems, IHC Sea Steel and IHC Fundex Equipment – into one new organization, which will operate under the name IHC IQIP. IHC said the merger aims to offer a fully integrated solution for on- and offshore installation, foundation and decommissioning to customers in the oil and gas, offshore wind and coastal and civil markets. “Many of our customers are already working with one or more of the four IHC business units now integrated under the IHC IQIP umbrella.

The IHC Merwede stand (number 2625) will feature a diverse range of innovative vessels, advanced equipment and life-cycle support activities at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). The company is exhibiting at the annual event in Texas, USA, which runs from 6 to 9 May and is expected to attract 80,000 attendees from more than 110 countries. Renowned as a reliable supplier of offshore construction and support vessels, and mission equipment to the offshore market, IHC Merwede specialises in the development and delivery of integrated and efficient solutions. To highlight its capabilities, one of the main attractions on the stand will be a model of two identical 550-tonne pipelaying vessels that the company is building for SapuraKencana.

IHC Handling Systems, part of IHC Merwede, has delivered a pile guiding tool for the installation of 80 wind turbine foundations at sea. This innovative tool was designed and constructed by IHC Handling Systems, and then installed on board Seajacks’ new jack-up vessel, ZARATAN, in autumn 2012. The company was awarded the contract on the strength of its vast expertise and experience in the offshore market. The pile guiding tool is part of an extensive package of advanced handling and lifting equipment that was supplied by IHC Handling Systems.

IHC Merwede opened a new yard facility in Broussard, La. The yard at 206 Cummings Road will operate under the name of Hydro-Ram, Inc. With this expansion IHC Merwede now has a regional office in North America. Hydro-Ram, Inc., consisting of IHC Hydrohammer, IHC Handling Systems and IHC Fundex Equipment - all business units within the IHC Merwede group - will be the main distributor covering the North American piling markets for the oil and gas, offshore wind, construction and coastal and civil industries. The new site’s facilities include storage for a large rental fleet, maintenance operation and the main strategic spare parts hub for all of IHC Merwede’s pile installation equipment.

IHC Merwede will exhibit a broad range of its innovative vessels, advanced equipment and lifecycle support activities at stand number 2625 at the forthcoming Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2012, which runs from April 30 to May 3 in Houston. As a supplier of custom-built vessels and equipment for the offshore market, IHC Merwede is renowned for focusing on the development of integrated solutions, as highlighted by its position as “the technology innovator.”  To underline this position a model will be shown of the two identical new 550-tonne pipelaying vessels IHC Merwede is building for SapuraCrest. IHC Engineering Business and IHC Drives & Automation are supplying and engineering the critical mission equipment for these vessels.

IHC Merwede has entered the international rental market with its standard IHC Beaver dredgers and DMC work boats. The company has identified a demand in the market for vessels and equipment that may only be used for a relatively short period of time. In August, the first dredger – an IHC Beaver® 40 – was rented out to a contractor in Europe. The dredger was easily loaded on to trucks and transported to the dredging site, where it was quickly deployed by a team of IHC Merwede engineers. This vessel will be used for the deepening of a river in order to increase its capacity.