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MacGregor has completed certification testing for floating to floating personnel transfers using its Horizon V4 active motion compensated gangway system, marking a development for offshore access operations involving independently moving vessels.
The validation was independently verified and certified by DNV following a Sea Acceptance Test involving transfers between a Commissioning Service Operation Vessel and a Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit. The test demonstrated safe personnel movement between two floating assets operating in open water conditions.
Focus on offshore safety and uptime
For offshore operators, crew transfer between moving vessels has long been compared to stepping between two escalators moving at different speeds during rough weather. The challenge becomes greater when sea states shift unexpectedly and vessel motion changes in seconds.
According to MacGregor, the system uses LiDAR based relative motion tracking to monitor vessel movement in real time and compensate accordingly. The company said the technology can help reduce weather related downtime while improving transfer safety for offshore personnel.
Oil, gas and floating wind applications
The test involved collaboration with Bluewater Energy Services, Edda Wind, and Norwind Offshore, which supported operational planning and offshore execution during the sea trials.
The certification expands the operational scope of motion compensated gangways across Offshore Oil and Gas projects and the growing floating wind sector, where safe personnel access between offshore assets remains a key operational requirement.
