Ulstein Equipment Wins IRO Innovation Award

Ulstein Equipment B.V. was awarded the IRO Oil & Gas Innovation Prize for its Ulstein Colibri, a 3D motion-compensated crane add-on system for the purpose of increasing vessel operability. This aims to enable smaller and more cost-effective vessels to be used in harsher weather conditions.

On Thursday, December 3, 2015, the biannual IRO Oil & Gas Innovation Event took place at ESA-ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where the three preselected companies presented their innovations and competed for the IRO Innovation Prize. The event participants voted Ulstein Equipment as winner for its Ulstein Colibri.

The Ulstein Colibri is mounted on the tip of a crane. This compact crane add-on system can be mounted on standard cranes, either new build or retrofit. The system is suitable to serve both the offshore wind energy industry as well as the oil and gas markets.

3D motion-compensation technology is not new to the industry and has enabled greater operability for personnel transfer between vessels and fixed offshore platforms through the use of motion-compensated gangways. Operations typically require both personnel and items to be transferred between vessel and platform.

According to Ulstein Equipment, the next natural step in increased operability is therefore motion-compensated cargo transfer to match the increased operability offered by compensated gangways.

Ulstein Equipment was also awarded the IRO Innovation Prize in 2013 for its Chain-Type Stinger Handling System.