Offshore operations are constantly at the mercy of weather. For floating rigs especially, the combination of wind, waves, and ocean currents translates into complex vessel motions — heave, sway, surge, pitch, roll, and yaw. While rigs are engineered to manage these forces, they can't eliminate them. And in too many cases, even new rigs are under-equipped to operate safely and efficiently in rough conditions.
The result? Unintended downtime. Waiting on Weather (WOW). Increased exposure to risk. And lost productivity.
In this article, we’ll explore how lateral movement during material handling contributes to weather-related downtime — and how guiding and securing technologies can be used to safely expand your operational weather window with minimal rig modifications.
WOW isn't just a scheduling issue. It’s a direct cost driver. A modern floating drilling rig can command a day rate of over USD 500,000. When you include support vessels and crew, the total daily cost often doubles.
Reducing that downtime starts with understanding how operations — like moving subsea equipment through the moonpool — become an unacceptable safety hazard or even impossible as weather worsens. Lateral movement during material handling is one of the biggest contributors to operational weather window limitations. Uncontrolled, it increases the risk of collisions, equipment damage, and injury to personnel.
By handling or “arresting” these movements — in parked positions and during material/equipment handling operations— rigs can increase the operational weather window and safely continue work, reducing NPT and improving both safety and efficiency.
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The moonpool area is a critical bottleneck. This is where Blowout Preventers (BOPs), Christmas trees (XMTs), risers, and other heavy equipment are guided in and out of the sea. It’s also where environmental forces are challenging to manage.
Uncontrolled lateral motion here doesn't just create risk — it narrows your safe operating window. However, this is also where specialized systems can make the biggest difference. With tailored handling systems, unintended lateral movement can be minimized without costly rig modifications.
Even newbuilt rigs are delivered with inadequate guiding and seafastening systems. Retrofitting guiding and seafastening systems can be designed and provided to any rig, improving its operational capabilities. In most cases, such retrofitting can be installed with minimal or no disruption to ongoing operations:
XMT/BOP Handling Systems: Mechanized overhull and underhull guiding for safe and controlled deployment and retrieval, remote controlled.
BOP Test Pipe Handlers: Remote-operated systems that eliminate crane use and expand the weather window for BOP testing.
N-Line/DAT Riser Tension Handling Systems (STR Arms): Mechanized, hands-free deployment and parking of riser tension cylinders — no manriding over open sea required.
Moonpool Multi-Purpose Cranes: Rail-mounted, remotely operated systems with tilting and telescoping capabilities for broader reach and safer operations.
ClickStab systems: Efficient and Hands-free operation of Gooseneck K&C HP-Hose system (connect & disconnect).
MPD handling systems: Efficient and Hands-free operation of MPD systems (connect & disconnect), based on above FP ClickStab® system technology.
CML handling systems: Tailored handling systems such as offline hang-off systems incl. gimble and integrated hang-off frames, winches, umbilical sheaves and reels, etc.
Each of these systems reduces human exposure to safety hazards, increases the operational weather window, increases operational efficiency and enables a safer, more consistent work environment.
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Investing in guiding and seafastening systems doesn’t just reduce NPT — it directly impacts the rig’s earning potential and its bottom line. Considering the high day rates and associated costs of offshore drilling, even modest gains in uptime translate to significant savings. And because better designed and adapted equipment allows for faster, more efficient operations, spending less time on location — which means reduced fuel use and lower emissions.
Improving your weather window isn’t just good for business. It’s also better for the environment.
A large number of rigs still operate with outdated or inadequate material handling systems. Arresting lateral movement isn’t just a safety measure — it’s a performance upgrade. And it’s an upgrade that can be implemented incrementally, without major rig redesigns.
For rig managers and operators determined to stay competitive and productive in a challenging offshore environment, improved guiding and seafastening systems will increase uptime, reduce safety hazards, and deliver more consistent results — even in the most challenging weather conditions.