User approved

Four J D Neuhaus EH 60 air
operated monorail hoists supplied for
offshore BOP handling have
completed 12 months satisfactory
operation to customer requirements
and have also passed their first
annual inspection. These hoists were
supplied and initially mounted in
Norway by Westcon Løfteteknikk AS
(WCL) at the Westcon yard, and were
designated for eventual location on
the Seadrill West Epsilon rig, which is
classified as DnV, + 1A1 selfelevating
mobile offshore unit.

The hoists, each providing a 60
tonne lift capacity, were required for
the synchronised handling during
both pre and post drilling operations
of a new 120 tonne BOP unit
supplied to the rig. Each hoist was
fitted with load eyes instead of hooks,
and provided a total lift height of 17.4
metres with four chain falls. They
also provided a 0.5 metre/min lifting
speed under full load, with a
designed trolley speed of 12
metre/min for horizontal travel
movements.