13 February – Last week: kick-off meeting for the new people transfer unit named ‘OPTS’ took place at Elma’s office. This innovative ‘Offshore Passenger Transfer System’ has been designed by Lift2Work bv in Rotterdam. Elma Systems has been asked to engineer, build and install the complete control system for this heave compensated crane.
The Lift2Work people transfer unit has a sophisticated design:
> It is able to safely transfer personnel and/or freight at open sea, without needing to moor to the target object.
> It has a modest footprint: the mobile version will be delivered as a 40 feet container skid; For the permanent mounted version only needs a surface of 2,4 x 3,6 m.
> The OPTS’s total installed power is only 2 x 76 kW.
Elma’s most important challenge now is to meet all redundancy, overload and other safety requirements. The OPTS crane is designed to comply to the DNV standards.
Elma colleague Henri will be both project manager and software programmer of the people transfer unit’s control system. The coming months Elma Systems will focus on the construction and installation of the control cabinet, lighting, sensors and cabling.
The Offshore Passenger Transfer System project is being realized by a consortium of companies: Lift2Work bv (IP, Conceptualization, Lead Engineering), Elma Systems (System Control: soft- & hardware), Parker Hannifin (hydraulics) and KWINT (man riding baskets).