MARINE personnel-transfer expert Reflex Marine said yesterday its Frog crew-transfer device had reached a double milestone.
It is the 10th anniversary of the device, which now accounts for a million crew transfers each year, and this number continues to increase.
More than 450 Frogs are now used in all the world’s major oil-producing regions.
Reflex said the recent grounding of helicopter flights in the North Sea because of the volcanic ash cloud led to a rise in demand for Frogs, and heightened awareness of marine-based crane transfer as a viable alternative transfer solution.
The firm, which is based at Truro, Cornwall, said the Frog was also gaining acceptance in the offshore wind energy sector as operators consider options for servicing windfarms.
Philip Strong, Reflex managing director and inventor of the Frog, said: “We have seen major changes in all the key areas, from the design of the transfer device itself, to vessel specifications and increased focus on crane operations, training and overall integrity management. Risk assessments confirm marine transfers offer a very low risk alternative to helicopter-based transfer, which is good news for crews and the industry.”