Commercial and Berthing Services

NLB operates two vessels, with the larger NLV PHAROS able to provide helicopter support to operations.

The ships operate from our base in Oban and able to support:

• Buoy deployment & recovery both inshore & offshore in the North Sea & Atlantic
• Medium and small scale hydrographic sampling
• Sea-bed sampling and testing
• Deployment of subsea sensors and measuring devices
• ROV support
• Deployment and recovery of marine hardware

Survey

The ships are equipped with full multi-beam hydrographic survey suites which, with their DP capability, make them ideal platforms for conducting a wide range of survey work.

The available deck area and equipment allows the deployment and recovery of a variety of scientific devices and instruments or the installation of supporting infrastructure.

We don’t employ a dedicated Hydrographer but can work either with client’s own staff or contract surveyor.

The vessels can carry more survey staff if working from a shore base with survey crew living ashore.

NLV PHAROS

PHAROS is a multi-function tender which came into service in 2007 to support the maintenance of our lighthouses and other AtoNs. She has an overall length of 84.25 metres, a breadth of 16.5 metres and a draught of only 4.25 metres. She is equipped with Dynamic Positioning (DPII), a 30 Tonne main crane on her 300m2 aft deck.

She works with a contract helicopter and her own workboat to provide access to and re-supply of some of the most remote assets in Scotland and the Isle of Man. With a large ship’s office and on-board facilities she can act as a mobile project support base for operations in remote areas. PHAROS has a crew of 18 and has additional accommodation for 12 supernumeraries.

PHAROS benefits from Dynamic Positioning Class 2, 300m2 of deck space with container fixing points, a small moonpool to enable instrument deployment, a large ship’s office and berths for 12 survey staff.

NLV PHAROS Specification

NLV POLE STAR

POLE STAR is a latest generation, 70m hybrid powered buoy tender. The vessel incorporates innovative technology to minimise the impact on the environment as well as provide additional capability to help deal with the impact of Climate Change.

NLV POLE STAR Specification

Contact Us

To find out how we can support you, please email us with your contact details and a brief description of your project to commercial@nlb.org.uk

Buoy services is one of our core functions. We maintain the buoys to a very high standard and the expected lifespan of an NLB steel buoy body is in excess of 50 years. Buoys are maintained by our two ships and periodically they are taken to our Oban base for a full overhaul and in-depth maintenance.

We can offer this same quality of service to clients in their navigational marking requirements and can provide:

Buoy Rental and Maintenance Service

We can provide buoys for rental in support of Local Light Authorities (LLAs), offshore renewable energy sites, utility companies, ferry routes, etc. Rental will incorporate a full maintenance plan to ensure compliance to IALA standards.

Buoy Maintenance

For clients who own their own buoys, we offer a full, on location buoy maintenance programme to maintain safe navigation. The facilities at NLB Oban can also be used to give an intensive overhaul if required.

Buoy Deployment

We are experts at deploying and recovering buoys safely and without structural damage. Our ships are purpose built  and designed to deploy buoys and their associated moorings, whether they be for well-head marking, meteorological and environmental data collection, guarding wave-riders or marking outfalls and other man-made hazards. The deepest buoy deployment to date was in a water depth of 2000 metres.

Contact Us

To find out how we can support you, please email us with your contact details and a brief description of your project to commercial@nlb.org.uk

To support the requirement for navigational markings on offshore structures, we have developed a range of solutions to assist in ensuring full compliance with current legislation:

• Marking of offshore structures undergoing decommissioning
• Temporary marking of offshore structures during installation
• Marking of offshore structures post decommissioning
• Maintenance and deployment of offshore marker buoys
• Monitoring of Aids to Navigation

Decommissioning

We offer both short and long-term solutions to fit with clients’ decommissioning programmes. This allows cost-effective solutions for use during the decommissioning process and for the permanent marking of any remaining structure in perpetuity.

Interim AtoN

The Interim AtoN is a self-contained, solar-powered Aid to Navigation incorporating a 10nm lantern and optional Racon and GPS synchronisation. It is designed for use on platforms during the topside removal phase and can be relocated as the project develops to give continuous conspicuity in latitudes to 61 deg North. The Interim AtoN can also be used during the development of a field. For example, to mark a caisson tower until a jack-up unit is installed for operations.

Offshore Marker Buoys

Offshore Marker Buoys are deployed to mark well-heads and other subsea assets. Our skills in buoy handling ensures the safe and cost effective deployment, recovery and maintenance of buoys.

Contact Us

To find out how we can support you, please email us with your contact details and a brief description of your project to commercial@nlb.org.uk

NLB Oban

Our base at Oban offers a wide range of engineering and ship support services. Please read and download our Terms and Conditions – Oban Base Terms and Conditions – 27 October (662283707_5) (PDF)

Berthing

Monitoring

Monitoring of Aids to Navigation from a staffed Monitor Centre provides for informed, proactive maintenance scheduling, which can enable compliance with IALA standards. Staffed around the clock, 365 days a year, the Monitor Centre provides surveillance of Aids to Navigation via land-line, GSM, VHF and satellite signal, reporting on:

• light activation
• racon status
• battery condition
• charging status
• generator activity

Environmental and Maritime Data Gathering

Evaluation of NLB sites to assess capability of supporting data gathering devices in support of offshore renewable energy devices.

Aids to Navigation Advice

We can provide non-statutory advice on the design and implementation of bespoke Aids to Navigation marking schemes.

Contact Us

To find out how we can support you, please email us with your contact details and a brief description of your project to commercial@nlb.org.uk

We will consider requests from organisations/individuals wanting to install/store equipment at some of our locations. Examples of previous uses have been installation of radio transmitters, installation of trial LiFi 5G transmitter, installation of live transmitting webcams, Public Access Tour requests, etc.

To find out how we can support you, please email us with your contact details and a brief description of your project to commercial@nlb.org.uk

 

To find out how we can support you, please email us with your contact details and a brief description of your project to commercial@nlb.org.uk