News Archives - Page 3 of 15

In this blog post, our Regional Director, Neil Jackson, examines six common problems associated with hydraulic winches, and how STR’s experience in harnessing the superior benefits of electric winches through our innovative SeaTow product line can help to overcome them…

For many years, hydraulic winches have been the preferred choice for a number of industries when it comes to pulling large, heavy objects over extended distances in an offshore setting. However, despite their widely known acceptance, these winches present a number of challenges both to the crew members using it and to the wider environment, which are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Times are changing and electric winches have proven to be an innovative alternative which eliminate the issues that come with hydraulic systems. Not only do electric winches offer enhanced efficiency and reliability when compared to their hydraulic counterparts, they also offer better control, precision and ease of installation.

Problem 1: High energy consumption, even when static

Hydraulic winches have been a go-to choice for a number of years, as they used to have a lower Electro-Magnetic Interference level (EMI) than electric winches, which resulted in improved communications performance on the tow cable.

That being said, hydraulic winches are notorious for their high energy consumption. While not in use, they still demand a considerable amount of hydraulic power to maintain operational readiness. This means a constantly running, high powered generator is required, resulting in elevated fuel costs over the long term and the risk of being rendered unusable if a hydraulic power source isn’t available.

The solution:

Switching to an electric winch eliminates the need for such an intensive power source, as it benefits from higher motor efficiency than hydraulic winches and only consumes high power when in motion. This, combined with a lower power generator and low standby power consumption, means operators can significantly reduce fuel expenses for a more cost-effective operation.

Although hydraulic winches have been renowned for having the upper hand in terms of EMI levels, our SeaTow winches have been carefully designed to offer outstanding EMI performance to that of virtually all other winch types – including most hydraulic winches. This means operators can capitalise on the cost savings electric winches offer in terms of energy efficiency, without compromising on the winch’s communications performance.

Problem 2: Environmental and safety concerns

Hydraulic winches are complex systems and utilise high-pressure hoses that are susceptible to wear and tear from the harsh offshore locations they’re typically used in. Over time, this deterioration can result in high quantities of oil leaking into the surrounding environment. Hydraulic oil leaks present a serious environmental risk within the sensitive offshore locations they’re used, as well as increasing the risk to worker health and safety.

In today’s world where climate concerns and environmental issues are a critical focal point across numerous industries and locations, it’s imperative that a cleaner, safer solution to hydraulic winches is more widely available for subsea operations.

The solution:

Electric winches are much cleaner for the environment than their hydraulic counterparts, offering a lower environmental impact as a result of their excellent motor efficiency and low standby power consumption.

Our SeaTow product line can operate effectively at both low and high pressures with no pumped fluids required. Without hydraulic fluids, the risk of oil leaks and spills is completely eliminated, which makes our electric SeaTow winches not just an eco-friendly option, but a choice that also enhances workplace safety.

Problem 3: Complexity in cooling systems

Another key challenge when using hydraulic winches is that they generate a significant amount of heat when a large load is placed on the tow cable. This puts a high amount of strain on the hydraulic heat exchanger cooling system as a result, and means that hydraulic winches require the added complexity of water cooling systems being installed on the vessel.

This can become laborious and potentially hazardous for crews, as the cooling system will require additional maintenance such as filter changes, cleaning the hydraulic pumps and oil top-ups. It also requires extra care to be taken so as to avoid oil discharge from the hydraulic system into the surrounding environment. In the long-term, this can result in inefficient operations and time wasted, as well as potentially dangerous working environments.

The solution:

Electric winches such as our SeaTow product line are designed with integrated electronic systems that capture and dissipate heat internally. This makes the winch self-sufficient, eliminating the need for external energy capture or management systems to keep the system cool and safe. Additionally, since electric winches are air-cooled, there is no risk of them discharging contaminated water into the surrounding environment, which further positions them as a more eco-conscious choice for offshore operations.

Problem 4: Basic control systems susceptible to wear and tear

The control systems in hydraulic winches are often quite simplistic, utilising valves, relays and contactors for their operation. These elements can only offer a basic level of control, and are prone to wear and tear which further reduces the reliability of the system over time.

As a result, hydraulic winches often require frequent maintenance and part replacement, making them inefficient and potentially more costly in the long run.

The solution:

Our SeaTow electric winches employ an advanced electronic control system that minimises the use of simple components that are more susceptible to wear and tear, as used in most electro-hydraulic installations. Not only that, these advanced systems provide a superior level of control, status monitoring and operator feedback, while supporting remote communication control.

This makes electric winches well suited to projects on remotely operated or lean-crewed vessels, while also improving the overall reliability and reducing maintenance downtime, to ensure operations run smoothly.

Problem 5: Noise pollution

Hydraulic winches are known for being very noisy and creating a high vibration when in operation. This can be a significant concern in environments where noise pollution is a problem, such as offshore locations where marine life could be disturbed by the excessive noise.

Not only that, the constant humming and loud noise from a hydraulic winch can also be disruptive to the crew members operating the winch too, which can have a detrimental effect on productivity in the long term.

The solution:

With electric winches, the requirement for noisy Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) is virtually eliminated, allowing for low noise levels which in turn better supports job site communications and overall safety. Our range of SeaTow electric winches are carefully engineered to ensure quieter operations for this reason, which provides a more comfortable work environment for operators and is less harmful to sensitive marine habitats.

Problem 6: Complexities in mobilisation and demobilisation

Although they are powerful and durable, hydraulic winches are known for being difficult to install, since they require the installation of a hydraulic pump first. From multiple lifts to installing additional cooling systems, the process can be complex and time-consuming for the crews involved, with a lot more components required to power the winch.

When it comes to demobilisation, the same challenges apply, often requiring a larger operational footprint resulting in additional time, budget and resources to do so safely.

The solution:

One of the key advantages of an electric winch is that it is generally much easier to mobilise and demobilise compared to a hydraulic alternative. To transfer the winch from one vessel to another, it’s only the winch that needs to be reinstalled as it runs on the battery of the vessel rather than a separate hydraulic pump, thus allowing for a more swift and efficient process with less operational downtime.

STR’s SeaTow series simplifies the installation and demobilisation process significantly. With a single lift and a smaller environmental footprint, it allows teams to make significant savings in both time and operational costs, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking to improve operational efficiency.

Hydraulic winches may have a long history of use in various industries, but as we move into a more technologically advanced and environmentally conscious era, it’s crucial to consider the superior benefits of electric winches like STR’s SeaTow series. From lower energy consumption and reduced environmental impact, to easier installation and less frequent maintenance, electric winches not only enhance operational efficiency but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

In the latest instalment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, Nge Aik Moh, our Technical Operations Manager based in Singapore, discusses his journey while working at STR. Having joined in 2019 to help us expand in the Asia Pacific region, Aik Moh shares his perspective on what makes STR the go-to subsea technology partner in the offshore energy and marine science markets as a global provider of technology, equipment solutions and data Services.

In the latest instalment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, Nge Aik Moh, our Technical Operations Manager based in Singapore, discusses his journey while working at STR.

Having joined in 2019 to help us expand in the Asia Pacific region, Aik Moh shares his perspective on what makes STR the go-to subsea technology partner in the offshore energy and marine science markets as a global provider of technology, equipment solutions and data Services.

Read on to uncover what Aik Moh enjoys most about STR, the best piece of advice he’s ever received in his career, and more…

How would you summarise your career background and what led you to STR?

“I started my career at a British-owned company, Sonardyne International, and worked there for 12 years as an offshore support engineer, then a workshop manager, and finally an offshore manager. My role initially involved worldwide installation, commissioning and 24-hour support, before advancing to project management with a continual focus on quality and service – this was the foundation of my technical knowledge and practical experience.

“I was then fortunate enough to experience working with other survey companies and engineering startups to help set up workshops, before spending four years at Neptune Marine Services where I was responsible for establishing its survey workshop in Singapore as part of its international expansion strategy into Asia Pacific. These experiences of creating fully operational departments led me to my current position as a Technical Operations Manager for STR in Singapore.”

How has your role evolved since joining STR, and what does a typical day look like?

“I joined STR as part of its international expansion strategy into Asia Pacific. At first, my role involved securing facilities, meeting clients and helping build a fully operational capability. Since I started with STR we have increased our team, our equipment fleet, our facilities and our client network; which I am extremely proud to have contributed to.

“Day to day, my main responsibility is managing the technical and operations team in Singapore ensuring our operations run smoothly and we maintain the highest standards. STR is a customer focused business with emphasis on teamwork, innovation, quality, responsiveness and service and we regard ourselves as technical experts in subsea sensor technologies. Our aim is to be viewed, by our customers, as offering them an optimised equipment solution supported by the best technical support team.

“I closely work with our other service hubs in Australia, UK and Houston, to ensure efficient movement of STR assets and assist with the continued growth of the business. Working as part of a global team ensures STR can provide its local and international customers with a common standard of service and quality.”

Why are you so passionate about your role and where do you see STR in the future?

“I’ve had the benefit of being at the very beginning of our start-up stage in Singapore which required me to wear multiple hats. We have continued to invest and strengthen our team and have very recently moved into new custom-designed facilities that are 4x larger than our previous, and provide us with more capacity to support our growing customer network.

“Regarding the future, we aim to maintain our competitive position within the global subsea sensor market. There are many neighbouring countries to Singapore that have very ambitious offshore energy project with a high focus on Offshore Wind. STR has the largest and newest fleet of geophysical sensor technologies and our focus on equipment and service quality, we will be very well positioned to support the growing needs of our customers.

“Technology and innovation is at the core of STR and we continue to invest in research and development as we continually look at ways to offer our customers a competitive edge by delivering technologies that are of the highest quality, offer the lowest non-productive time in the field with a high focus on the emerging, disruptive, operating trends and new customer requirements – an example, is our new range of fully electric, autonomous winch systems provide our customers with the ability to deploy large sensor packages from USVs.”

Why do you think people choose STR?

“I think it is a combination of many things. Across the whole business, irrespective of department, we have a very high focus on getting the very small things right and ensuring our customers receive an optimal service to a common standard of quality.

“We have significantly invested in our team, facilities, equipment fleet and in-house product suite. We have the newest fleet in the market and we have a team of technical experts with strong domain knowledge of subsea sensor technology and deployment systems – we want to be regarded as a trusted extended arm of our customers’ project team.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

“I always remember a previous colleague saying to be nice to people on your way up because you will meet them again on your way down. It’s very humble advice and it’s the reason why I work hard to maintain a good network of contacts and build on positive client relationships within the industry. I think that’s another reason why customers choose STR, we really value the relationships we have with our customer network.”

Find out more about STR and our suite of best-in-class services here…

In the latest instalment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, STR’s Regional Director, Neil Jackson, discusses his journey since joining the organisation in 2009, while providing insight into what the future holds for STR as a global provider of technology, rental equipment and data services to the offshore energy and marine science markets.

Read on to uncover what makes Neil so passionate about his work, the best piece of advice he’s ever received, and more…

As a long-serving employee, can you tell us a bit about your time working at STR?

“When I joined STR in 2009, we were a company of approximately 25 people operating in Great Yarmouth with a core focus in geophysical technologies. We have now grown to a team of 100 experts across the globe, and it has been fantastic playing my part in this exciting journey.

“I started at STR as a Business Development Manager, which was my first role in sales following a military electrical and electronic engineering background, and then working offshore in a geotechnical discipline. This experience set me up well, as I had a broad technical baseline and relatable field experiences, enabling me to deliver a strong service to our customers.

“My role has changed massively since I joined the organisation, as I’ve progressed from Business Development Manager, to Sales and Operations Manager, and now I’m a Regional Director responsible for the largest region within STR. Over the years I’ve supported the growth of our international business, travelled across the world to support customers with our subsea products and services, and helped to lead our passionate team to achieve our ambitious goals.”

What is your key area of expertise? Which of STR’s technologies are you most involved in?

“I’m generally seen as someone who has in-depth knowledge around our historical products. Since the early days, we’ve been seen as the go-to experts for geophysical survey related products, so that’s become my core area of expertise, and that really fits quite well into what’s going on in the offshore energy market at the moment.

“In offshore wind, for example, the ability to map and define the seabed is critical and relies on well developed geophysical surveys. So our knowledge and experiences continue to be very relevant for our customers.”

What does a typical day look like for your role – what is the ultimate goal for you?

“My role is incredibly varied as I hold ultimate responsibility across all aspects of my region – P&L, organisation, customer relationships to name a few, but my typical day is centred around supporting my management team to deliver our day-to-day services and future aspirations.

“Everything we aim to do in the business is all about giving our customers the absolute best service we can, and for me, it’s really important that I have a purposeful connection with our customers. Even though I’m now responsible for worksites in Great Yarmouth and Aberdeen, we’re collectively working as one team, so I feel it’s not only important to share my own experience but to embrace the daily challenges we often face in a reactive industry together.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? Why are you so passionate about the work you do?

“Leading a team of technical experts who provide 24/7 technical support, tailored solutions, equipment rental and services in our industry isn’t for everybody. Although incredibly rewarding, it can be a high pressure, dynamic environment where our customers’ project success will often be dependent on our service delivery, but I’m someone who embraces these challenges and this is embedded in the culture at STR. Across the industry we are seeing notable advancements in data driven solutions which STR is at the forefront of providing its customers, which is great to be a part of.”

What does STR’s future within the industry look like to you over the next 3 to 5 years?

“I think the future is really bright. Supporting the transition into sustainable offshore energy is really exciting but also very important for our future, and it creates a lot of opportunities for businesses like ours who can support the industry with new technologies.

“There are plenty of transferable skills and experiences that can go into the transition, but there’s a lot of new things for us to learn too which is exciting. Our R&D capability means as a company that designs and manufactures its own products, we can continually evolve and focus on the next industry needs. By utilising our domain knowledge, we’re in a really good position to deliver products that support the energy transition. For example, due to an industry drive for remote technologies, our range of electric survey winches that have been used on typical survey vessels for over 20 years now have built-in features for remote operation on USVs, which is seen as the next big advancement in our industry.

“Offshore energy developments around the world continue to evolve at a fast pace, meaning our growth strategy must mirror the demands and needs of our customers. With the support of our investors, we will have an enhanced customer offering to enable a closer role with our clients and their project requirements. We’ve got a successful geographical footprint already, but we will continue our momentum with a focus on offshore renewable energy projects. With our increased activities globally, this creates rewarding opportunities for our team to experience working in different environments and cultures.”

Why do you think people choose STR?

“We’re perhaps not the biggest rental company in the industry but we aspire to be a market leader for service and quality, and with the support of our new investors we continue to grow and diversify in all areas of our business. For me, it’s always been about our service delivery and the client relationships we create throughout the journey. I would like to think our historical and new clients can really connect themselves to our core values.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

“Working in sales, you’re inevitably going to come across challenging situations and customer relationships aren’t always going to be straightforward because they’re facing their own pressures. But don’t burn bridges – focus instead on building partnerships and relationships.

“I was given this advice early on in my career and I’ve come back to it often. It’s important to protect your professional relationships developed throughout your career, because you just never know when you’ll benefit from that relationship further down the line.”

Find out more about STR and our suite of best-in-class services here…

Every day is different thanks to the diverse portfolio of projects I’m involved in. However, my day-to-day activities are to test the STR kit and ensure the quality is consistent and at the highest level we, and our customers, expect.

Can you tell us a bit about your day-to-day activities in your role?

Recently, I’ve also had the privilege to step into a calibration role within the Houston base. Working alongside the calibration team has provided another exciting opportunity to learn, develop my skill set, and gain new experience.

What attracted you to join STR?

My position at STR provided me with the chance to kick-start a brand-new journey in my life.

After learning about the industry from a family friend, I was captivated immediately. With such an exciting future ahead and so much potential to unlock, I was determined to break into the industry. With the work STR has performed in the Americas region, its investment in people, new technology and plans to continue growing in the region, I felt that it was the company for me, and now was the perfect time.

I was fortunate to get the opportunity to step into STR’s brand-new Houston base, where I have learned and grown alongside the business ever since. Easily one of the best choices I’ve made, the team I work with at STR has become like family, and the rotational engineers have become some of my closest friends.

STR is passionate about supporting new talent embarking on their career, what kind of opportunities do you think should be available in the industry as a whole?

I think awareness and understanding is key. I believe that if more people knew about the ins and outs of the subsea energy market, the potential and capabilities of the technology deployed, and the different kinds of equipment packages and solutions we provide every day, they would fall in love as I did.

STR prides itself on creating a culture and work environment that allows individuals to thrive and achieve their potential, develop unique skill sets, and build exciting careers for themselves.

For the industry to continue evolving and growing, it needs to invest in the next generation of leaders, managers, technicians, and engineers. STR has afforded me the chance to learn so much in a short space of time, leaving me excited for what each day brings.

What are your ambitions and goals for your role at STR? Where would you like to be in 3 – 5 years?

When I first started my career at STR, I didn’t think I would be in the position I’m in right now which is a testament to the unique working environment and encouragement for development.

In three to five years, I would like to be someone in the workshop who anyone can come to and feel comfortable asking questions and looking for help or guidance on any subject. I want to be someone who can help others learn and grow, just as my peers have been for me.

STR is a company where if you come to work every day and be diligent in your learning, the possibilities are endless.

What advice would you pass on to other young people looking to break into the industry and kickstart their careers?

Never say no to any opportunity to learn and grow yourself. Instead, dive in head first and take it as it comes.

I started as an engineer back in 2004 and having been with the company for nearly two decades. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come, from delivering small rental fleets to manufacturing our own products and providing critical equipment, products and services, globally to the marine sectors.

As one of the longest-serving employees in the business, can you tell us a bit about your time working at STR?

The business has experienced a tremendous amount of growth through investment in our team and technologies which has helped build a solid foundation for the business. I’ve worked within the design team since 2005 and there is a wealth of domain knowledge within our team; I believe that this is testament to STR’s culture and success.

Ultimately, engineering is about problem solving, and we have built a loyal customer base and feel they can approach us with a need to solve their technical and operational issues. A key differentiator for STR versus our competition is that we have in-house design and build capability to engineer a suite of in-house products and bespoke solutions that places us in a unique position within our market segment.

How would you say your experience contributes to the development of STR?

Over the years, I’ve been heavily involved with product design and development within STR, and it’s taught me the crucial importance of having a ‘We’ mentality in business and it pushes me to continue to drive things forward. In the subsea energy and marine science markets, you can’t get complacent, so we have to be prepared to continue to innovate and work towards developing the next disruptive cost effective product.

It’s important to remember the best solution is not always the most complex or expensive one, it’s often the simplest one; my experience has taught me that efficiency and innovation are key to providing simple, cost-effective solutions.

Can you tell us a bit about STR’s current technologies?

Innovation is a core tenet of STR. We are continually looking to improve our product range and develop new solutions which can be demonstrated through the evolution of our technology and product suite.

As the portfolio of technologies grows, the systems get smaller and more efficient. Having evolved to create innovative digital communication systems, the limits of our technology have been tried, tested, and proven to work well; our range of Drop Camera Systems is a prime example of this.

Our Drop Camera Systems are powerful communication systems equipped with 21 mega pixel digital SLR Cameras interfaced with a wide range of lights, sensors and datalogger. We’ve designed and manufactured everything in-house to create these products. This allows us to fully control our supply chain, optimise cost and system performance.

From these systems, the technology that has really been developed by our team is now utilised across a wide variety of systems including many ROVs.

Since 2021 we have also been redeveloping our winch suite to advance technologies and performance, such as remote interfacing to support operations via USV/ASV vessels and improved power efficiency, safety, reliability, and performance including speed and working load limit increases.

Initially we launched the SeaTow 6000, to complement our fleet of deep water sidescan sonar (SSS) and sub-bottom profiling (SBP) systems and quickly followed up with the SeaTow 500, which is set to become our most popular winch product. SeaTow 2000 has been developed subsequently as a high speed and line-pull product to support ROTV operation and high stress loads (such as gradiometers and combine SSS & SBP applications).

Unlike other electric winches in the market, we have applied our extensive domain knowledge and operational experience to design and manufacture systems that mitigates typical performance issues relating to signal loss and data corruption caused by electromagnetic interference generated by the winch itself. This ensures not only that the system can operate reliably without compromise to the data quality of the deployed sensor, but also ensures that the sensors are able to be deployed on the very longest lengths of cables; supporting increased depth of operation, and maximising the capability of the winch and sensor as a system.How do you think these technologies will contribute to the future of the industry?

How do you think these technologies will contribute to the future of the industry?

If we create a successful product, we don’t stop there, we’re always looking at ways to improve our products and meet the changing demands of the industry.

Efficiency is key, customers are always looking at ways to reduce time, vessel cost and improve data integrity. Our engineers are equipped to think critically and break the problem down so that they can improve and evolve our products to meet industry demand and support the journey to sustainability.

What are your business growth goals and plans for the next 3-5 years e.g., technological advancements?

We are working on a variety of different products, the team at STR conduct a series of research projects to adapt our priorities and anticipate future needs.

We are working with several customers to support the integration of our winches and their associated data telemetry systems/towed sensors into new build vessels such as ASVs and USVs, which is an exciting new chapter in development as customers seek to perform more work remotely or autonomously in the immediate future.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received that has helped you progress in your career?

I believe the single most important thing to realise is that you can’t give up. Being an engineer means you must embrace problems as without them, we wouldn’t be there to solve them. What I often tell entry level engineers is that if we were certain a product would pass its test, we wouldn’t bother testing it – we need to accept that things don’t always go to plan. We adapt, we refine, and we don’t give up.

Subsea Technology and Rentals (STR) is further strengthening its presence in the APAC region by securing new custom-designed premises in Singapore as part of its ongoing international growth plans.

STR, a leading provider of specialist survey and inspection rental equipment, products, and data-enabling services to the offshore energy market, has made the move to a larger 10,000 sq. ft. facility – three times the size of its previous premises.

The facility will allow STR to increase its service lines and capabilities and includes a large open-plan electronics workshop that features space to set up and test multiple complete offshore electronic spreads, cable spooling, testing facilities, and state-of-the-art access control features to satisfy the requirements for Singapore Customs Strategic Goods export controls.

With significant investment in its regional resources, including equipment & organisation, the custom-designed facility will enable the business to better support the growing demand from clients based in the region across the offshore energy market.

The move reflects the group’s ambitious growth plans following investment in new larger facilities in the USA and the launch of its 30,000 sq. ft Innovation and Technology Centre in Great Yarmouth, home to the research and development of STR’s technical solutions and products.

STR’s Regional Director for the Asia Pacific region, Jason French, said: “Our new Singapore facilities are further testament to the ambitious growth plans we have at STR and the trust we have built with our clients. It’s an opportunity to further build on STR’s significant presence and reputation in the region.

STR has the youngest and most advanced survey equipment fleet in the world. Offering an industry-leading working environment will provide a platform to attract more talent to our team enabling STR to provide a more extensive and best-in-class response service to our clients across the growing offshore energy market.

Strategically located alongside key logistics channels, we are looking forward to welcoming clients into our new facilities to experience first-hand our operational capability, new equipment fleet, in- house products, and specialist services we can support them with.”

Subsea Technology and Rentals (STR) is delighted to announce the appointment of Americas VP, Randy Mullins.

Randy brings over two decades of experience in offshore surveying and operations, fourteen years of which was spent with UTEC in senior roles, and in the company’s first global support role. Prior to this, his role with Fugro Canada as an offshore survey party chief involved delivering challenging construction projects both locally and globally. Randy brings extensive knowledge of the market and aims to strengthen the Group’s presence in the Americas.

Randy Mullins, VP Americas said: “I think 2023 will be a really exciting year for the energy market, especially with the emerging renewables sector in the Americas. I am looking forward to getting started in my new role and excited to join a business with a clear growth strategy and plans to further strengthen the team, equipment fleet and in-house product range. We have a great facility, a highly motivated team and a well invested equipment fleet which will enable us to service our customers with their growth plans through the energy transition in the Americas.”