KTN-iX has a new innovation challenge to improve the safety of offshore technicians during Covid-19

A call seeking a solution to increase the physical separation of technicians in the confined spaces of offshore crew transfer vessels.

KTN, in partnership with Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, offshore wind health and safety group G+ and Workboat Association, has launched a new challenge on the KTN-iX platform seeking a rapid solution to increase physical separation during small vessel transit for offshore wind turbine technicians.

 

Social distancing rules in operation during the Covid-19 pandemic are forcing some operators to limit offshore crew transfer vessels (CTVs) operations to a maximum of four passengers, a considerable reduction from the usual 12 or 24. This impacts the amount of work that can be undertaken on a wind farm, affecting jobs and ultimately energy production.

 

The KTN-iX challenge has been launched in search of a rapid solution to address the physical separation of technicians in the confined spaces onboard CTVs, improving the safety of personnel required to continue to travel to undertake wind farm inspection, maintenance and repair and allowing an increase in passenger and crew numbers.

 

The challenge was identified by members of the Operational Contingency initiative, established by ORE Catapult’s O&M Centre of Excellence in response to the Covid-19 crisis.  The pandemic is creating unprecedented challenges for the global offshore wind industry and this initiative brings together wind farm owners, OEMs, supply chain, membership bodies, Government and regulators to address the key issues and challenges being faced.

 

KTN-ix is an online platform that promotes innovation transfer, matching real industry challenges from large companies (Tier 1 and 2) to organisations, often from other sectors, who have innovative technology and can facilitate faster development of novel solutions to those challenges. The solution to this challenge could come from diverse sectors – the transfer of skills and knowledge from other sectors is a key driver for the platform.  However it is likely that interested organisations will come from one of the following industries:

• Construction
• Automotive
• Manufacturing
• Materials
• Composites
• Healthcare

 

The innovation call presents a significant commercial opportunity to the successful solution provider, with the potential to offer the solution to workboat operators in other industries.

 

This challenge closes on 12 June.  For more information on the functional requirements and to submit a solution, visit KTN-iX here.