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HCS Control Systems has launched a fleet of new mobile workshops which will, according to the company, make the maintenance of critical subsea control systems offshore much safer.

The company, which designs, manufactures, assembles and tests subsea equipment, has invested £750,000 in the development of a Test and Flushing Workshop. These mobile cabins can be used onshore and offshore to carry out pressure-testing, flushing and cleaning of controls pipework, umbilicals and hydraulic equipment without exposing personnel to the dangers associated with such work.

The compact workshops feature a blast wall partition, effectively segregating the pressure testing and cleaning operations from the operator cabin so that workers are fully protected from the hazards of using pressure testing equipment. Full control, measuring and recording facilities are available in the laboratory part of the cabin allowing remote operation of hydraulic controls in a clean and safe environment.

Colin Milne, Sales Director for HCS, said: “Our new product is the only one of its kind and has been designed with safety firmly in mind. Currently people carrying out these testing and maintenance activities are exposed to the significant hazards of this type of work. Feedback from workers encouraged us to look at what could be done to make these activities much, much safer and the result of our research, design and investment is a safer but effective solution that compares favourably with the rental costs of other test and flushing products on the market.

“However, because we fully understand our clients’ requirements in terms of equipment downtime and costs, our design provides the optimum configuration within minimum footprint to ensure effective fluids operations to be undertaken in any environment. We have a fleet of ten units available to go offshore immediately with our without our specialist service personnel.”