ARRC Autonomous Rescue & Recovery Craft

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

ARRC Autonomous Rescue & Recovery Craft

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun May 01, 2016 9:56 pm

From a sheet of rescue vessels issued in the name of the Maldives.
Delta has launched one of the largest RIB’s in the world. After years of development, Seawork 2005 saw the first public appearance of this latest model at the cutting edge of RIB technology.
Designated the AARC (Autonomous Rescue & Recovery Craft) this Delta 19m has many novel features. The sponsons are a hybrid construction that allows the craft to take advantage of the energy absorption properties of an air filled tube with the damage resistance of closed cell foam. Carbon fibre shafts have permitted the engines to be placed in the optimum position without the weight penalty that conventional steel shafts would incur, and the cabin is a double decker.
The ARRC is an integral part of "Jigsaw", BP's innovative Rescue initiative for their North Sea platforms which will provide enhanced Rescue & Recovery arrangements. In an emergency, helicopters will be deployed from strategically located platforms with the ARRC acting as the marine element. Each ARRC will have a crew of six including a fully trained paramedic and is capable of operating in seas of 7 m significant wave height.
In the event of an emergency rescue, the ARRC has the facilities on board to house 21 survivors in comfort and to perform essential triage and basic life-saving initiatives including Cannulation, Intubation and Haemorrhage Control. In addition the ARRC has a clear aft deck area that enables a "Helivac" of seriously injured survivors to be completed in the severest of sea states.
Powered by twin 1000 hp CAT 18's linked to Hamilton 521 Waterjets and with the latest onboard Navigation & Ship control systems linked to Hi Visibility LCD displays she is capable, in continuous mode, of cruising at 30 kts. Top speed is currently commercially sensitive but dependent on loaded condition it is understood to be well in excess of 35 kts.
Following the initial sea trials in early June, Delta Managing Director Charles Dyas said that he was delighted that such a leading edge craft should perform so well "out of the box" commenting that the performance predicted by one of the most comprehensive series of tank tests ever undertaken in a boat of this size were born out in real life.
The initial production plan for all boats was for the hull and deck to be moulded by a specially formed company, Delta ARRC Ltd (DAL), in Stockport, Cheshire, England. The superstructures for boats 01, 02 were moulded by Blondecell and their successors, Composite Mouldings Ltd, and the remainder at Stockport by DAL.
Initially, it was planned that fitting out, and joining of the superstructure to the deck would take place at Holyhead Marine in Anglesey, Wales. In the event, only boats 01 to 04 were fitted out at Holyhead, and boats 05 to 08 were assembled at the Wear Dry Dock, Sunderland, England as the result of an internal decision by DAL.
Eight ARRC's which are due to come into service with BP are specifically engineered for their Rescue & Recovery role but this craft is obviously so versatile that derivatives for other Patrol duties are already under development.
Two ARRCs were carried on board BP’s Caledonian class oil rig supply vessels on special launching cradles. In April 2015 BP announced that it intended to end the use of autonomous rescue and recovery craft (ARRC) and end the provision of the Jigsaw helicopter capability for search and rescue provision.

In April2015 the company stated that it was terminating the use of the ARRC vessels — introduced in 2009 to improve safety in the North Sea — as they were frequently underused.

The end of the Jigsaw helicopter came as a result of the decommissioning of the BP Miller platform where the Jigsaw helicopter was based.

While the Jigsaw helicopter has been replaced by a new employer-funded SAR helicopter, this is based at Aberdeen International Airport and can only provide rescue and recovery, and medevac cover for offshore workers out to around 160 nautical miles from the shore.

Whilst in Aberdeen in April 2016 I was told that the 8 ARRC vessels are now laid up at South Queensferry Marina, near the Forth Road Bridge. The launching cradles have been removed from the Caledonian class rig supply vessels.

The vessels were named – 01 ERIK, 02 SCOTT, 03 PAUL, 04 IAN, 05 EUAN, 06 JAMES, 07 ALASTAIR and 08 DAVID.

I am attaching some of my photos of the ARRCs and one of their Mother Vessels. The ARRCs and smaller rescue craft carried my rig supply and rescue vessels are referred to as Daughter Craft.

Sources: http://www.journalofoceantechnology.com ... 3&id=6&jot... (Reviews & Papers). http://hotribs.com/03press/198-delta-ri ... a-ribs.asp. https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-d ... yY15nKTWos. David Dodds of Aberdeen.

Peter Crichton
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