Annual Report 2010 - IRO

Members meeting IRO/CEDA on Offshore Wind
This successful combined members meeting organized on 9 March 2010 by IRO
and the Central Dredging Association (CEDA) discussed the mutual activity of both
associations: Offshore Wind. 175 participants were present. Daniel Rudolph,
Senior Hydraulic Engineer at Deltares, gave a presentation on ‘Soil protection -
challenges, innovations and new knowledge’. Foundations of offshore wind turbines
are usually protected from earth removal (scour). A traditional soil consists of
2 layers of stones: a filter and a top layer (armor). Because of the costs there is a
need for optimization and research is being conducted into alternative protections.
Klaasjaap Buijs, Engineering Manager at Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors,
gave a presentation on the ‘Belwind Offshore Wind Farm’. During the presentation the
production of the foundations, transition pieces and monopiles was explained. Main
contractor on the Belwind Project, Van Oord, is responsible for the manufacturing of
the foundation, the electrical design of the park and the connection to the grid. Ernst
van Zuijlen, Project leader FLOW at Evelop, gave a presentation on ‘FLOW – Far
and Large Offshore Wind’. The Dutch industry and knowledge institutions started
an innovative research and demonstration wind farm 75 kilometres off the coast of
Callantsoog in 30-35 meter water depth. At the moment there are no wind farms in
the world at that depth and distance from the coast. The FLOW (Far and Large Offshore
Wind) programme allows businesses in a leadership position in the Netherlands to take
on the international market for offshore wind farms. The programme was launched
by RWE, TenneT, Ballast Nedam, Van Oord, IHC Merwede, 2-B Energy, XEMC Darwind,
ECN, Eneco and TU Delft.
Members meeting at Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery
On Wednesday 7 April 2010, IRO organized a meeting at Siemens Industrial
Turbomachinery in Hengelo. Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery supplies compressor
installations and related services for the oil and gas industry worldwide. The compressor
portfolio is completed by gas turbines, steam turbines and electric engines. During the
tour through the factory the core activities of Siemens were explained, such as revision
and repairs, new building, assembly and testing of the compressors. The meeting in
Hengelo was well visited by both IRO members and non-IRO members. In total
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery welcomed 92 participants.
© IRO 2011
Members meeting IRO/ Agoria Carbon Energy Club
On 19 May 2010 IRO, in cooperation with the Agoria Carbon Energy Club (CEC),
organized a members meeting at Iemants NV in Arendonk, Belgium. Raf Iemants,
General Manager at Iemants NV talked about the Smulders Group in general and
Willems and Iemants, both subsidiaries of the Smulders Group. After this presentation,
Gerrit-Jan Schepman, business development manager at GustoMSC gave a presentation
on the design and engineering activities of GustoMSC, a part of SBM Offshore. After the
presentations the participants were given a guided tour through the factory. More than
eighty Belgian and Dutch members of CEC and IRO participated. Both associations agree
that a joint meeting for all members is successful and worth repeating.
Members meeting at Econosto
On 23 June 2010, a members meeting was held at Econosto Nederland, in Capelle a/d
IJssel. Peter van den Bent, Managing Director of Econosto, welcomed the participants and
showed the activities of Econosto and the links it has with the oil and gas industry. Econosto’s
project management, the importance of steam, and Straub (a coupling technology which
is very maintenance and space efficient, compared to flanges) were discussed. The final
presentation was about the legionella bacteria, and how Econosto uses different methods
to reduce the risk of infections on board of ships, offshore platforms and other types of
buildings. During the guided tour a demonstration on the Straub Technology was given and
it was explained to participants how legionella in offshore installations can be avoided using
a special installation. The networking drinks afterwards were again greatly appreciated.
A total of over 50 participants visited this last IRO members meeting before the summer.
Members meeting at Van Beest
On Tuesday 5 October 2010 an interesting members meeting took place at Van Beest
in Sliedrecht. Van Beest is a manufacturer of top end quality fittings for rope and chain,
such as shackles, hooks, turnbuckles that are sold under the trade names Green Pin ® and
Excel ® . Green Pin and Excel products are used in various lifting and lashing applications.
Their main markets are oil & gas, industry, mining, fishing and shipping. During the tour
in the factory, the IRO members were shown the process of how the Green Pin ® shackles
are made from beginning to end. The Van Beest factory is a combination of pure hand
craft and automated machinery.
9