Ampelmann and Seaqualize to build the first Balanced gangway prototype

It Lies in the Balance

October 2017

This week, Ampelmann and Seaqualize announced their partnership towards developing a more efficient, durable and greener offshore gangway, including the patented Seaqualize balancing system. Together, they will increase the standard that market leader Ampelmann has set before, by further improving safety, workability, durability and cost efficiency for offshore walk to work solutions. 

Ampelmann and Seaqualize will jointly build a new full scale prototype to be tested offshore. Seaqualize has a patented technology implementing a hydro-pneumatic system to stabilize offshore gangways. This technology ensures that the static moment is passively balanced in all desired angles and for all load cases. The solution is reducing luffing power consumption for compensation of the gangway with about ~95%.

The innovation is simulated, tested at scale and now ready to be implemented in a full scale prototype. To do so, Seaqualize and Ampelmann received a Top Sector Energy subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs, to fully implement the technology in a prototype. Together with the independent research institutes MARIN and ECN, both partners will use the RVO subsidy to reduce the power consumption of offshore access systems enabling a significant operation & maintenance cost reduction for offshore wind energy.

The four partners are testing the concept design, further engineer and fabricate the prototype, and prepare for the final prototype tests offshore to be finished next summer.

For more information, contact Gjalt Lindeboom, at g.lindeboom@seaqualize.com or +31(0)6 81313930

For more information on Ampelmann and this partnership, please visit Ampelmann.nl