A walking jackup platform called WaveWalker 1 has been awarded a Product and Equipment Innovation Award at the Ground Engineering (GE) Awards ceremony in London (14th May.)
WaveWalker 1, developed by Fugro and Van Oord, is an eight-legged "walking" jackup barge (self-elevating work platform - SEWP) designed especially for marine operations in rough seas, surf zones, beaches, and other intertidal locations where operation of traditional SEWPs is uneconomic.
As well as operating safely whilst elevated, its bi-directional movement allows it to move and relocate without floating. WaveWalker 1 can boost productivity in tasks such as geotechnical site investigations, drilling, trenching, pipeline and cable-laying, blasting, and other marine and underwater work.
In January 2013 WaveWalker 1 began its first project, where it undertook drilling and rock blasting works in the outer channel to the port of Suape in Brazil.
Les Lugg, Commercial Director of Fugro Seacore, said: “We provided design and engineering expertise to create the jack-up barge which is owned and operated by WaveWalker BV, a joint venture between Fugro Seacore and Van Oord.”
WaveWalker 1 is currently on location in the UK preparing for its next contract due to start in July 2014.