PRLog (Press Release) –
Aug 12, 2009 – Oslo-based Miko Marine AS has designed a sea anchor that uses modern high-strength materials and is capable of being used by the largest vessels. It is intended as a component of the European Ship Arrestor project but Claus-Christian Apneseth, project manager for Miko Marine, believes that a sea anchor should be routinely carried by any ship with a dangerous or potentially polluting cargo.
“Heavy-lift ships and any with a large deck cargo can be in danger if they are lying beam-on to the sea following a loss of power,” he said. “The sea anchor is a simple and well-known device that will quickly turn the bow of any ship into the wind. In this way it will ride more safely and its cargo will be less vulnerable. It will also reduce its drift by up to 50 per cent and this could be a vital safety element. Last October a jack-up oil drilling platform was lost from a heavy lift vessel under just these circumstances and is a typical example of the dangers arising from excessive roll when a ship cannot turn into the wind. Similarly, by slowing the movement of a tanker towards land, the use of a sea anchor could provide more valuable time for the ship to be reached by rescue tugs before grounding with disastrous consequences.”
Although it was well-known in the age of sailing ships and may still be used by small craft, the sea anchor has fallen into disuse as ships have become bigger and heavier. The Miko Sea Anchor uses modern man-made fabrics and lines to create a parachute-shaped anchor that is immensely strong yet capable of being stowed in a small container on the foredeck. Calculations based on the recent trials have determined the dimensions of the sea anchors needed for ships of different sizes and have revealed that they need not be as large as might be assumed to be effective.
“Our trials have confirmed that a parachute anchor with a diameter of 30 metres is capable of turning and slowing the drift of a ship of up to 100,000 tonnes dwt,” said Aspneth. “Such an anchor can be stored in a small container on the foredeck where it can be kept ready for immediate use. It could be launched over the bow by the crew or installed with an automatic electrical or hydraulic deployment system. Because it can be a self-contained unit, the sea anchor could be moved from ship-to-ship in a fleet to suit the cargo being carried and to meet any instructions from its insurers.”
Miko Marine is a salvage company with expertise in naval architecture and it also markets a unique range of magnetic patches for emergency use by ships. The company is leading the European Ship Arrestor Project which is aimed at developing a technique that can enable a tow line to be attached by helicopter to an unmanned ship that has lost power. The tow line would end in a sea anchor so it would reduce the ship’s drift and create more time for the intervention of a rescue tug. A consortium of eight European organisations has been created to develop the idea and it includes companies from Norway, France, Germany, Netherlands and Austria. Among these are the Norwegian Institute of Technology and the UK’s Ship Stability Research Centre. By applying their individual expertise to the challenge, it is hoped that it will be possible for the consortium members to develop a technique that will reduce the likelihood of groundings and the pollution that can result from them. A more detailed description of the principle can be viewed at www.shiparrestor.com.
-ENDS-
Commercial enquiries contact:
Nicolai Michelsen, general manager
Miko Marine AS
Ruseløkkveien 26
PO Box 1534 -Vika
N - 0117 Oslo
Norway
Tel + 47 46 90 50 00 Fax + 47 22 83 65 15 Mob + 47 911 70 452
email: info@miko.no website: www.miko.no
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