General Specification

WET BELL LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEM (LARS)

with CONTROL CABIN & MIXED GAS PANEL

Part No. SMP000-742

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 WET BELL LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEM (LARS)

General Description

The SMP Wet Bell Launch And Recovery System is designed within a compact operating footprint to
minimise the required operational deck space on board a vessel or barge. Emphasis has been placed on
ease of mobilisation and demobilisation so that costs are kept to a minimum. The Wet Bell LARS is IMCA
D023 and D018 compliant and has Third Party Design approval to Lloyds Rules for Lifting Appliances in a
Marine Environment.

When fully retracted by the hydraulic cylinders, with the wet bell and clump weight stowed on the heavy
duty based skid, the size and dimensions of the Wet Bell System are exactly the same size width as an ISO
20’ container and shorter in the base length by approx 1.8 mtrs. The heavy duty based skid has ISO corner
castings situated on each corner so that the system can be located on conventional transport or container
ship for shipment with no out of gauge additional costs applicable.

The main components and features of the Wet Bell System are as indicated below:-

Heavy Duty Base Skid with Elevated Winch Platform

Heavy Duty “A” Frame
The “A” Frame pivot points and sheaves incorporate Stainless Steel Pins with Grease Nipples
Two “A” Frame Hydraulic Luffing Cylinders, fitted with counterbalance valves
Wet Bell complete with 4 x emergency on board cylinders
Wet Bell Manriding Hydraulic Winch. With Stainless Steel Drum / wire Guards
Clump Weight. With Stainless Steel Sheave Pins and Grease Points
Wet Bell umbilical
Wet Bell umbilical power sheave and roller handling assembly
Clump Weight Manriding Hydraulic Winch with Stainless Steel Drum / wire Guards
The Winch Proportional Control Valves have Motor Spools for Fine Control of the winches

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 Two Integrated 30kW Hydraulic Power Units 3 Phase 380-440 Volt 50 /60 Hz
Stainless Steel Electrical Control Panel with Two 63 AMP Industrial Male Bulkhead Plugs for
connection of the Primary and Secondary Electrical Supplies
Emergency Stop Located on the Control Panel
24 Volts DC Control System for additional safety
Also Refer to the attached GA drawing for the weight and dimensions

Technical Specification

Depth Capability: 100 m Operational Depth

Design Appraisal: Lloyds Register of Shipping

Design Approval: Lloyds Rules for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment

IMCA Compliance: IMCA D023 & IMCA D018 (and D037 optional)

Wet Bell Cylinders: 4 x 50 Litre Cylinders 300 Bar rated

Wet Bell Dimensions: 1340 mm x 1890 mm

Length (approx): 4200 mm

Width: 2438 mm

Height (Operational): 4100 mm

Weight: 7000 kg

Hydraulic Power Units: 2 x 30kW HPU Tank Mounted Electric Motor & Submerged Hydraulic Vane
Pump Set

HPU Electrical: 3 Phase 380 – 440 Volts 50 / 60 Hz

HPU Oil Capacity: 2 x 200 Litre Hydraulic Tanks with Inspection Covers

HPU Working Pressure: 100 bar @ 90 Litres / Min @ 1450 RPM

Seawater Oil Cooler: Shell and Tube Type Seawater 45 Litre / min @ 5 bar Max

Wet Bell Winch Manriding: 16 mm Dia x 120 Meters Anti Rotational Wire Rope

Clump Winch Manriding: 13 mm Dia x 240 Meters Anti Rotational Wire Rope

Dive Control Cabin: 2438 mm x 2058 mm x 2591 mm

Air Conditioning: For heating and cooling the Dive Control Cabin

Mixed Gas Control Panel: For Diver 1, Diver 2 and Wet Bell supplies

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 General Information Base and Winch Skid

Protective Stops are incorporated into the design fabrication, which support the ‘A’ Frame in the stowed
position to avoid contact with the winches.

The hydraulic luffing Cylinders are connected to the base skid and ‘A’
frame clevises with 316 Stainless Steel pins, retained in position with
bolted SS keeper plates.

The base frame is inset with a composite non slip corrosion proof
grating, forming a safe operational area and walkway for personnel.
Additionally there is an elevated structural pedestal above the Dive
Control Cabin which incorporates the two hydraulic manriding
winches and the proportional hydraulic control valves assemblies.
The elevated position of the winches keeps the winch wires clear of
the operational personnel working on the base skid.

The winches are integrally piped in 316 Stainless Steel to

the hydraulic control valve assemblies, which in turn are
connected directly to the supply and return hydraulic
supplies from the hydraulic Power Units.

The base skid is additionally outfitted with two

inward opening safety gates which remain closed
when the Wet Bell is deployed over the side of
the vessel. Incorporated within the safety gates
are twin sets of 316 Stainless Steel multi-rollers
which are utilised for umbilical handling if the
LARS is used with a basket for conventional
surface diving (optional).

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 ‘A’ Frame

The ‘A’ Frame movement to the inboard or outboard positions is controlled by operation of the hydraulic
control valves. The ‘A’ Frame is fitted with a main central sheave, where the lift wire is positioned for
lifting and lowering the Wet Bell. Additionally at each end of the top beam of the ‘A’ Frame there is a
sheave for the clump weight wire and a stop end for connection of the clump weight wire end termination.

The cross head of the ‘A’ Frame also incorporates a high intensity spotlight for illumination during hours of
darkness and an electrically interlocked safety trip which activates a failsafe lock-out system if the dive
basket is raised above a safe preset level.

Clump Weight

The fabricated Clump Weight design allows the Clump Weight wire to be doubled reeved through the twin
sheaves which are situated at each end of the Clump Weight. This allows free travel of the Clump Weight
in the event of emergency recovery of the Wet Bell, using the clump weight.

Dive Control Cabin

This is a 2438 mm x 2058 mm steel fabricated control cabin integrated into the steel structure of the winch
package. This will be situated below the winch package with forward facing window to view the launch
area and operation of the Wet Bell. There will be a side personnel door, workbench and air conditioning
unit situated in the wall of the container. The container will be outfitted with strip lighting, emergency
lighting and 13 amp double clad power sockets situated around the wall of the container. The container
will have a fabricated steel floor and insulated wall and cladding internally.

On the wall of the container there will be a 3 diver mixed gas surface diving panel. This panel will be used
for supplying mixed gases to Diver 1, Diver 2 and the Wet Bell. The panel will be piped to an inlet
penetrator plate on the container and a separate outlet penetrator plate for supplies to the Wet Bell via
the Wet Bell umbilical. The mixed gas surface panel will be wall mounted to one side of the workbench.

The Dive Control Cabin will be fitted with an external access door on the bulkhead wall to give unlimited
maintenance access to the panel internal components.

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 The specification for the panel will include the following:

Diver Supply Section

1 x HP/LP Air Inlet – regulated by a high flow HP to LP hand loaded regulator

Mix 1 – regulated by a high flow HP to LP hand loaded regulator
Mix 2 – regulated by a high flow HP to LP hand loaded regulator
Mix 3 – Decompression Mix - regulated by a high flow HP to LP hand loaded regulator
Mix 4 - Decompression Mix - regulated by a high flow HP to LP hand loaded regulator

Each supply will have its own high pressure inlet isolation valve and gauges and its own low pressure
isolation valves and gauges.

Diver’s Control Section

This will consist of Diver 1, Diver 2 and the Wet Bell which will
allow for any of the five inlet supplies to be supplied to either of
the two divers independently and Wet Bell. There will be an
independent emergency crossover valve between diver one and
two. The panel will be fitted with three pneumo gauges 0-330 ft
seawater / 100m. These gauges will be .25% accurate. There
will be a facility on the panel to analyse Diver 1 and Diver 2
online gases including the Wet Bell. This will be via three digital
analysers with HI/LO alarms fitted.

This panel is built in a custom built aluminium frame with a fully engraved front fascia with all valves clearly
marked for ease of operation clearly showing the diver’s supply section and separate diver’s control
section.

There will be space available for the

Diver’s and Wet Bell CCTV system and
a UPS system. This will be priced as an
optional extra depending on the
Client’s specification and
requirements.

Within the wall of the cabin there will

be an emergency kick out door for
emergency exit and steel protected
covers on the forward facing viewing
windows for protection when the
system is not in use.

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 Wet Bell - 2 Man (3 Man is Optional)

This is a 1.35 m x 1.89 m Wet Bell complete with an integrated overhead

acrylic dome which allows for a 360 degree field of vision during
operations. The acrylic dome is enclosed within an overhead frame
complete with a protective grillage.

The wet Bell incorporates 4 x 50 litre high pressure emergency air/gas

cylinders, Clump Weight wire guides, diver access points from both sides
of the cage and seating for the divers. Hand hold points are situated
within the Wet bell and 316 Stainless Steel safety chains are fitted at the
diver access points.

The Wet Bell is also equipped with an internal overhead lift point for the
addition of an unconscious diver recovery system.

The main structure of is made up of a heavy duty tubular section with the base section manufactured in
Heavy Duty ‘I’ Beam to increase the in-water negative buoyancy of the Wet Bell. The main lift wire
connection point incorporates two additional emergency lift points.

Wet Bell Umbilical

The SMP Wet Bell Umbilical comes in optional lengths but for this quotation we have assumed 120 mtrs.
This depends on the working depth of the Wet Bell requirements. The make-up of the main bell umbilical
is as follows:-

4 off ¼” i.d. Pneumo Gas Hoses

4 off ½” i.d. Gas Hoses (4 Gas Hoses provided for further upgrade to a 3 Diver System)
1 off ¾” i.d. Hot Water Hose
4 off DCS0013 Mini TV Cables
5 off DCS0004 Power Cables
4 off DCS0012 Comms Cables
Polyester Fibre Strength Ropes
Close Weave Polyethylene Monofilament over-braid

The Wet Bell umbilical is made up of highly flexible braided pressure hoses. The gas and pneumo hoses
have polyurethane liners and reinforced fibre braid layers to offer abrasion protection. The hot water hose
are constructed of the same materials but have a thermo-plastic rubber in the liner.

All cables for both comms and power are of high quality polyethylene core insulation and polyurethane
sheaths are used as standard materials to meet the standard diving application requirements. All hose end
fittings are fitted with swage phosphor bronze fittings.

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 Wet Bell Umbilical Power Sheave

The Wet Bell LARS is equipped with a fixed position Hydraulic Umbilical Handling
wheel mounted above the winch section on a vertical stanchion. The rotational
direction, speed and tension are controlled at the dedicated proportional control
valve station.

The Umbilical handling wheel is manufactured to suit

the minimum bend radius of the Wet Bell Umbilical
which is client specific in terms of services required.

Additionally there is an umbilical roller quadrant mounted on top of the Wet

Bell ‘A’ Frame for safe overboard and handling of the umbilical.

Manriding Winches

Two hydraulic Manriding Winches are fitted to the SMP Wet Bell LARS. The
Winches are fitted with 16mm and 13mm rotational resistant galvanised
steel wire ropes, which are crush resistant and reduce sheave wear. The
winches are additionally fitted with robust drum / wire guards for
additional safety.

Both hydraulic Manriding Winches are planetary type Winches of high

performance with many years of severe service operation. The Winches
are powered by high efficiency gear motors designed specifically for
applications to provide smooth application.

The motor torque is transmitted and multiplied by the high efficient gear
train enclosed within the Winch drums. All rotating components are
supported by high anti-friction bearings and run in oil to minimise friction.

The load control system is maintained by a patented brake valve. The brake
valve is also backed up by an internal multi-disc hydraulic release safety
brake. Additionally an overrun clutch permits a free rotation through the
brake in the hoisting direction only with immediate lock-up when the
hoisting operation is completed.

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 Hydraulic Power Units (HPU)

The Wet Bell LARS is equipped with two single independent 30kW Hydraulic Power Unit mounted in front
of the Wet Bell Control Cabin.

The Hydraulic Power Units are each equipped with 200 litre
hydraulic reservoirs which support the electric drive motor
mounted on noise suppression rings, bell housing, drive
coupling and the fixed displacement submerged hydraulic
pump complete with suction strainer. The hydraulic reservoirs
are outfitted with side mounted inspection hatches, return line
filters, sight glasses and fill points with desiccant breather. The
installation of the two hydraulic power units gives the system
100% redundancy, with separate dedicated primary and
secondary supplies in the event of failure of the primary unit.

The hydraulic circuitry is fitted with non-return valves and over-pressurisation safety valves which operate
as and when required during the operation of the LARS. The unit is equipped with a shell & tube bundle
seawater / oil cooler which control the hydraulic oil temperature, on the return flow to each oil reservoirs.

The unit is fitted with 3 x 3 port diverter / change over valves with linked handles, which can be switched
very simply from the primary to the secondary hydraulic system circuits, without the need to disconnect or
operate multiple changeover valves.

The Hydraulic Power Unit electrical 3 phase 380 – 440 volt distribution and 24 volt control system is built
within a 316 Stainless Steel enclosure. The enclosure incorporates all the necessary controls to operate the
system safely.

LARS Electrical Control Enclosure

The main electrical enclosure has two independent incoming main supplies via
two 63 AMP plugged connectors. The mains supplies can be selected and
activated at the main isolation switch giving 100% power redundancy. HPU No
1 and No 2 can also be selected and switched at the main electrical enclosure
and activated by independent Start / Stop buttons, an emergency stop button
is also incorporated. In addition a limit switch override reset button is
installed to allow the basket to be lowered if the high basket limit is activated
during operation. A Status indicator light is installed to confirm the 24 Volt
control power is available.

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 LARS Lifting and Handling

The SMP LARS is supplied with the 4 off main lift padeyes which are bolted onto
the main structure. This enables the padeyes to be removed for regular proof
load testing as required by regulations without disturbing the ‘A’ Frame sea-
fastenings onboard the Vessel.

In addition the LARS is supplied with a dedicated spreader beam and sling set
suitably rated tested and certified for the full weight of the complete LARS,
including the Wet Bell and clump weight.

Sacrificial Sea-Fastening Plates

The LARS is provided with a set of sacrificial plates which bolt in position to the LARS base skid and can be
utilised for sea fastenings on the clients Vessel if required.

For further information on this product please contact our Sales Team:

SMP Ltd
Blackpool Road
Preston
Lancashire
United Kingdom
PR4 3RE

Tel: +44 (0)1772 687775

Fax: +44 (0)1772 687774
Website: www.smp-ltd.co.uk
Email: sales@smp-ltd.co.uk

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