Atlas Winch & Hoist Services recently completed an order to supply a range of specialist utilities equipment for a pipe pulling project taking place in Antarctica.
The equipment is destined for the Rothera Research Station, based on Adelaide Island, Antarctica. Located 1,860 km south of the Falkland Islands the facility is the largest operated by the British Antarctic Survey, and as well as being a biological research centre it is also a hub for supporting deep field and air operations. The island is 140 km long, is mountainous and heavily glaciated. Its highest peak is 2,565 m. Rothera supports a wide range of BAS, UK University and international collaborative science programmes. During the summer months it is home to more than 100 personnel as the most is made of the milder weather conditions. However, in winter this can fall to just 22 people as temperatures drop to -20°C and activities are greatly reduced. The station has recently been undergoing a process of modernisation with a range of the facilities being upgraded and improved. In particular, the wharf and quayside facilities have been developed and expanded to 74 m to accommodate the new and larger Polar ship the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The utilities equipment supplied includes 3 t and 4 t Grundowinch trailer-mounted hauling winches with data-logging capability, 10 t Cable Drum Jack Towers, 8 t Cable Drum Trailers with a drum drive system and various other ancillaries as well as general lifting and pulling equipment that will be used for installing a new fuel pipeline for the Rothera facility. Atlas worked closely with manufacturers to find the best technical solutions as well as a very challenging timescale to ensure the equipment was completed and delivered to meet the required shipping deadlines. The cable drum trailer and the cable drum jack towers also used a special design that will accommodate a larger than usual range of drum sizes thereby reducing the total amount of equipment needed to do the job. This detailed knowledge of the equipment, a genuine appreciation of the application and close working relationships with manufacturers such as SEB International meant that the right equipment was delivered on time and on budget.
Atlas supplies a wide range of winches, cable drum trailers and associated equipment to the utilities sector as well as having one of the largest and diverse rental fleets of its kind in the UK or Europe. Atlas can also design and engineer bespoke solutions where standard equipment does not quite fit the bill. Operating from two locations in Essex and central Scotland, Atlas provides its specialist equipment and services to Construction, Engineering, Marine, Oil & Gas and the Renewable sectors as well as to the Utilities industries. With activities throughout the UK, Europe and beyond, Atlas can take their equipment and expertise to every corner of the globe.
