TRANSFER UNDER PRESSURE
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29 may 2002, Neil Hopkins, UK SMER
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| Onboard the UK’s Vessel of Opportunity (VOO), the Norwegian vessel
GEOFJORD, can be seen as the UK’s new Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) system. |
| The KURSK tragedy highlighted a shortfall in our rescue capability, that of transferring rescuees under pressure from a DISSUB to the rescue vehicle then across the deck to a compression chamber for treatment.
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 At the heart of the developing system is the recently manufactured Deck Reception Chamber
(DRC). This chamber is in the process of being fitted out and cannot be pressurised at this time. Valuable experience has been gained, however, in developing and proving the procedures to be used in operating the system.
The Deck Reception Chamber
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| Medical staff, divers, operators and the manufacturer were involved in exercising the system onboard
GEOFJORD. Those involved along with observers from many nations were impressed with progress to-date. The system was conceived earlier this year and is expected to be in service by the end of the year!
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 LR5 with rescuees onboard is recovered from the sea to the deck and seated onto her deck cradle. The DRC is moved forward on a dedicated transfer track to lock onto LR5’s aft transfer hatch. Rescuees are transferred one by one through the deck reception chamber to one man hyperbaric stretchers locked to the three transfer ports at the base of the
DRC. The hyperbaric stetchers are then transported across the deck to larger compression chambers where treatment can take place. The hyperbaric chambers could be helo’d to a shore facility if required. The system will allow transfer of rescuees to a maximum pressure of 5 bar. |
LR5 Recovery using the A-Frame
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