l to r: Carl Sanders (GE Awards judge) Peter Richards (Fugro Seacore), Sam Whitaker (Fugro Seacore), Jelle Mens (WaveWalker BV), Mark Stevens (Fugro Seacore), Matt Ford (Fugro Seacore), Ian Moore (Comedian for the event)
The innovative walking jack-up platform WaveWalker 1 was presented with the Product and Equipment Innovation Award at the prestigious Ground Engineering (GE) Awards ceremony in London earlier this week (14th May.)
WaveWalker 1, developed by Fugro and Van Oord, is an innovative, eight-legged ‘walking’ jack-up 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 considerably 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, and more than proved its worth.
The GE Product and Equipment Innovation Award is for a product or item of equipment aimed at the ground engineering or geotechnical market which has delivered improved performance or made a technique or idea possible. The entries were required to provide evidence of how their product led to increased performance, durability, safety or productivity during a project or process. Research strategy that led to the development of the product and its sales success to date were also taken into account. Key criteria included: Innovative design, ability of product/equipment to fill a gap in the market; ability to deliver cost and performance benefits; and commercial potential for use on other projects/applications.
WaveWalker1 Fugro JV
“We are delighted to have ticked all the boxes and to be presented with this prestigious award, ” says Les Lugg, Commercial Director of Fugro Seacore. “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.”
This is the second award for the innovative walking jack-up barge; WaveWalker 1 was successful in November 2013 winning the British Engineering Excellence Award for Mechanical Product of the Year.
WaveWalker 1 is currently on location in the UK preparing for her next contract due to start in July 2014.
For more information contact:
Les Lugg
Commercial Director
Llugg@seacore.com
ABOUT FUGRO
Fugro creates value by acquiring and interpreting Earth and engineering data and providing associated consulting services to support clients with their design and construction of infrastructure and buildings. Fugro also supports clients with the installation, repair and maintenance of their subsea infrastructure. Fugro works around the globe, predominantly in energy and infrastructure markets offshore and onshore employing approximately 12, 500 employees in over sixty countries. In 2013 Fugro’s revenue amounted to € 2.4 billion, it is listed on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam and is included in the AEX-index.
