We do not recommend refurbishing personnel nets/ baskets with the exception of the X-904. Personnel baskets are designed to last in the field 1-2 years depending on the frequency of their use. As an example, most shallow water operations both drilling and production use their personnel basket frequently and sometimes even daily. These units should be replaced annually. Operations that transfer personnel via crane less frequently (such as those in deeper water who utilize helicopters more often) can replace their personnel basket after 2 years of use- or if the net/basket fails inspection. *It is not cost effective or recommended to refurbish these baskets in either scenario.

Repairs of non-load bearing parts are permissible such as, covers and stabilizer units. BPC does not recommend making repairs on the load bearing components.

ABS Type Approval is thoroughly explained in ABS website.

Many BPC customers require this additional 3rd party certification. It is an extra guarantee that our personnel transfer devices are manufactured with a high level of quality and that the product designs has been evaluated and tested.

The stabilizer unit on the X-904 (the transfer device used by Diamond Offshore) is used to keep the rigging (the load line and 4-part sling assembly) from becoming too tight or too loose when the X-904 touches down on the vessel while conducting offshore personnel transfers.

Basically, when the crane operator sets the X-904 down on the deck he has to slack off on the line to compensate for the up/down and side to side motion of the vessel. If the crane operator did not have the stabilizer unit and he slacked off too much then the rigging would drop down below the level of the top ring of the X-904 – creating a potential hazard. If the crane operator sets down the X-904 and tries to keep the rigging taught to resolve the slack problem then the X-904 could possibly come off the deck or slide- due to the motion of the boat and the tighter crane line. With the stabilizer, the crane operator can slack off up to the point where the boat can move substantially and the rigging will stay in place in a safe position due to the pure gum rubber inside the stabilizer compensating for the movement of the boat and its effect on the rigging.

In calm seas, this is not nearly so much of a problem but (as you know) things become exponentially more difficult and challenging when we add in rough seas and wind.

An additional safety feature of the stabilizer is that we have a 16-strand synthetic safety load line inside of the herculite bag that protects the rubbers. In the unlikely event that the main load line fails, this safety line will take over and catch the X-904.

Another note: if the rubbers broke inside the stabilizer, then (most likely) the load line was twisted around the stabilizer when the 904 was set down on the deck. This is very common. It’s VERY important to untwist the load line from around the stabilizer before making the next lift as the load line will pinch (and possibly) break the rubber strands inside.