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Outreach, a UK Palfinger dealer, is developing a line of special aerial platforms for use on offshore oil and gas facilities.

The platforms are designed for two main applications; to provide personnel access when joining two lengths of drill pipe, and to provide more general access for maintenance and inspection purposes. The platforms are described as semi-permanent, but can be retrofitted to existing installations.

Wilson Paton, chairman and managing director of Outreach, based in Falkirk, Scotland, told AI that five OSB250 platforms had already been supplied - two on fixed platforms in the North Sea and three on floating platforms – and orders have also been received for a larger platform currently under development.

Mr Paton told AI that the OSB platforms offer considerable advantages over scaffolding – removing the need to transport men and materials offshore – and also over standard powered platforms whose mobility is often inappropriate for offshore environments.

The telescopic OSB250 has an 300 kg cage capacity and maximum working elevation of 10m and outreach of 9.5m. The platforms are being sold by Outreach and also by Patriot Material Handling, a US subsidiary of UK company Global Marine Energy plc, under a non-exclusive sales agreement.