簡介：Reflex 海事公司最近發布了一款名為ＴＯＲＯ的新型人員轉移設備，許多創新舉措都是應海洋石油勘探生產行業的要求而研發的。ＴＯＲＯ人員轉移系統能夠保護人員安全，乘坐舒適，進出艙籠快捷，在常規和緊急情況下均適用。Reflex 海事公司總經理說：“海洋平臺人員轉移主要依靠直升機，船舶到平臺一般采用吊機，而轉移艙系統也是不錯的選擇”。

Reflex Marine recently unveiled a new offering to its marine personnel transfer portfolio which includes innovative design improvements requested by the offshore E&P industry. The company’s TORO personnel transfer device combines advanced passenger protection, comfort, and speed of entry and exit in a system that can be used for both routine and emergency transfer situations.

“While helicopters are the mode of transportation most often associated with marine crew transfers, there are many situations where ship-to-facility transfers via a crane and transfer capsule system would be the preferred method,” said Phillip Strong, managing director and cofounder of Reflex Marine. Notable examples include situations in which helicopters are out of commission, such as during heavy fog conditions, or situations in which transfer of personnel from one platform to another would be more cost effective and efficient by employing a marine vessel.

The TORO is an evolution of the company’s first personnel transfer capsule, the Frog, which was introduced 10 years ago and has carried out millions of safe crane transfers worldwide. “The TORO design evolved out of discussions with clients, passengers, and regulatory agencies,” Strong said. “The result is a capsule that is more comfortable, cost effective, and convenient to use.”

The TORO incorporates many of the same design features as the Frog, including its ability to protect passengers from side impact and heavy landings and its buoyancy and self-righting capability in the unlikely event of water immersion.

A major difference is the ergonomic design of the TORO’s seats, which have an inclined base to provide a more upright position for passengers and allow them to be transported without seatbelts, subject to company policy and local legislative requirements. These features, coupled with the addition of elevated hand grips, allow passengers to more easily rise from the seat and exit the capsule in five seconds or less. “The ergonomic body positioning and ease of mobility in and out of the capsule were important to some passengers, who experienced a more ’strapped in’ feeling with the Frog,” Strong said.

The capsule can seat up to four passengers with a maximum payload of 970 lb (440 kg) during normal crew transfer operations. Passengers are completely protected from any external impacts or dangers while in the capsule, and the seats are bolted to a centralized lifting column that protects against excessive impact stresses. The capsule’s safe operating envelope includes a vertical impact speed up to 3 ft/s (3 m/s) at a maximum wave height of 15 ft. Fully loaded, the capsule is stable without tipping to a maximum angle of greater than 45°.

During emergency medical transfers, the TORO can be quickly reconfigured to carry one stretcher plus two seated passengers.

The TORO successfully underwent extensive field performance tests in Aberdeen in 4Q 2008, with test conditions and impact velocities assessed based on a report commissioned by the Motor Industry Research Association. Since then, 12 TORO units have deployed for full-time use in the Mediterranean, North Sea, and offshore Southeast Asia.

“Response from users to date has been extremely positive,” Strong said. “While the Frog will remain a key part of our product range, especially for clients operating in highly challenging environments [such as Arctic regions], we believe the TORO will increase the overall adoption rate of higher specification equipment and globally will protect more workers from unnecessary injury.”

Further technical details of the TORO, including a short video demonstration, can be found at www.torotransfer.com.

楊寶劍 是振威（全球）石油網的高級技術編輯，在石油技術資訊行業有八年的學識和經驗。他源源不斷地提供石油行業全球最新的技術創新、研發成果、現場應用情況等信息。如果你對該項新技術有任何的疑問，或者對“新技術新產品”未來的內容有任何問題或建議，請聯系楊寶劍編輯 +86 10-58236512 Email：allenyo@zhenweiexpo.com 歡迎與行業互動！