Reflex Marine has sold 30 TORO crew transfer capsules across offshore Asia-Pacific, Europe, North and West Africa, Australia and America.
Most of the units are being utilized by major international oil and gas operators, however, the company has also entered the renewables sector, selling four capsules for use on wind turbine installation barges.
While Reflex Marine’s range of crew transfer capsules are an accepted and established method of crew transfer in the oil and gas industry, safe access to offshore wind turbines is still a key concern for operators. Significant numbers of personnel must access offshore wind structures for year-round maintenance or unplanned interventions.
Reflex Marine has reviewed a variety of concepts and believes that a vertically winched capsule, such as the TORO, could provide an excellent access solution to the turbines themselves. The main advantages being improved safety through reduced reliance on human responses, a much-improved operating envelope, a means of emergency evacuation and the ability to extract injured and stretchered personnel and one system for moving people and equipment.
The TORO, which was launched in February 2009, can carry up to four passengers, protecting them from side impact and heavy landings and is buoyant and self-righting. The protected body position and seat design allow it to be used without seatbelts (subject to company policy and local legislative requirements) and facilitates fast loading and unloading of personnel. Certified with CE marking and ABS Type Approval, the TORO fits into a standard shipping container, providing significant logistical benefits.