Wheeled Horizontal Lay System (WHLS)

The Wheeled Horizontal Lay System (WHLS) by Maritime Developments is an innovative, portable solution designed to facilitate the recovery of flexible products, including cables, subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines at heavier loads from deeper waters. 

Based on MDL's portable Horizontal Lay System (HLS) design - already proven as a compact package for safe and efficient recovery of SURF with buoyancy modules - the innovation comes from the application of a wheel mechanism which results in low-friction handling: allowing for the system's pulling forces to match the deployment capability offered by the tensioner.

By incorporating a wheel into the design, the HLS' recovery capacity increases without additional space requirements or weight from additional steel structures. The 2-point contact on the product results in reduced MBR requirements, opening up the product outer diameter (OD) window for wider application.

The system consists of a range of features facilitating recovery of various lengths and diameters of products, including: an integrated hang-off for handling end fittings; davits for overhead handling of products; integrated work platform for over the side or moonpool works and an adjustable wheel position to accommodate various product diameters.

The WHLS keeps true to the base HLS design, as the complete package is portable, compact, applicable on vessels of opportunity - in summary, a cost-effective way to kit-out a locally-available vessel to handle high loads and tackle recovery projects.

Thanks to its road transportability, the WHLS can be assembled on the quayside and easily mobilised on board the vessel with a single lift, followed by a second lift for the tensioner. The system can be employed with any readily available low-cost vessel worldwide, instantly transforming it into a dedicated flex lay or retrieval solution for the duration of the project. Utilising a locally available, smaller tonnage vessel not only enhances cost-effectiveness but also reduces the project's carbon footprint, contributing to environmental sustainability. 

One of the key advantages of all MDL equipment is its capability to convert a bare back deck into a flexible handling solution. This feature proves invaluable on decommissioning scopes, where budgets are significantly more constrained due to the end of a field's life or of the associated equipment. By addressing this challenge, the WHLS enables operators to deliver on their decommissioning obligations without the high cost of deploying specialist pipe handling vessels.   

With over 20+ years track record in innovative design and manufacture of lifting and pulling equipment for the marine markets, MDL is an expert in delivering bespoke equipment that works straight out of the box. The technology is developed fully in-house, including intuitive control systems that allow safe integration of systems for efficient operations.