Commissioning

After months of meticulous planning, expert design and engineering – and a focused and fast-paced construction process – the moment of truth for the Amphibious Hi-Traq Jetter arrived in summer 2024. Would this landmark vessel work as intended, and how successful would Royal IHC be in proving this to CMI? 

The commissioning and testing phase was in the capable hands of Scott Wardle. The ultimate ‘hands-on’ manager, with decades of industry experience, is responsible for Royal IHC’s 10,000m² assembly and test facility at the UK’s Port of Blyth – and all the teams associated within it. Decisive, confident and knowledgeable, he is a natural leader who has travelled extensively throughout his career and risen quickly through the ranks at Royal IHC. This is in no doubt helped by his down-to-earth attitude!  

The intensive commissioning process would usually take 6-8 weeks, and involves pressure testing every subsea element separately to prove it can function on the seabed. “We don’t usually drive the vehicle or test beneath the waves, but as this vehicle was the first of its kind, we built a dedicated test track outside our building,” explains Scott. Using this facility, the team could push the vehicle to the absolute limits of its design intent. 

“We go to the nth degree for our testing, basically trying to break the vehicle, so the customer can’t. The aim of the commissioning department is to make sure we have done everything we can, so the owner will never experience that problem.”

There is a series of alarms and interlocks in the vehicle’s software designed to protect it from destruction. To prove that these will work, Royal IHC must know what kind of conditions to simulate in the workshop – such as overloads, clashes and reverse motions during operation. “That's what takes the time and it’s all about what the team can do using their knowledge of subsea vehicles.”

Such in-depth testing further expands their knowledge and underlines their confidence before demonstrating it to the customer. It provides valuable data in the form of a 200-page commissioning document, which can be used as a future reference point. “If in 12 months, the vehicle is at the bottom of the seabed in the USA, and there’s a problem, we can see what pressure they’re getting and compare it to what we had – it gives us a good understanding of any potential problems in the field.”

Once they were satisfied that the Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter would perform as designed, Royal IHC then had to prove it to CMI during the factory acceptance test (FAT). This involved testing the vehicle to the specification required, including a 20-degree angle, the swords reaching a certain burial depth, and levelling and steering. 

By now, excitement was building on both sides of the Atlantic. The FAT would be the culmination of months of hard work and intense focus. There was a feeling that this unique vehicle was something to celebrate for both companies – to the extent that they surprised each other at the event with specially made project T-shirts for all those involved!

Scott describes CMI as “exceptional”, and the fact that they are not only investing in the vehicle, but will also operate it, has made a huge difference to the project’s success. 

Their mutual positivity and shared passion for the Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter resulted in an outstanding FAT: “It was absolutely flawless,” adds Scott, reflecting on what the Royal IHC team had achieved, together with their customer. 

The testing and approval of the Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter, as well as working closely with CMI, has given him a huge sense of achievement. “It's absolute pride, when you love what you do. And at Royal IHC we produce outstanding world-class firsts. Nobody else is developing this kind of equipment in the world, we’re at the forefront.”

Considering the ground-breaking nature of this endeavour, its successful execution, and the strength of the supplier-customer relationship, what happened the following day shouldn’t be surprising. Rather than rest on their laurels, Scott and his team decided to share their accomplishments with a wider audience, inviting 50 customers from ten countries to an unprecedented open day.

“This is not something that would normally happen,” admits Scott. “However, because it was a successful, brand-new product, and due to the demand from the market, it seemed like the right thing to do.” The Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter was showcased on its dedicated test track and received an overwhelmingly positive reaction. As a result, Royal IHC  is seeing opportunities for several potential orders.

Internally this project could have wider impacts on the rest of the company, and how future contracts are approached. The Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter was achieved with a cradle-to-grave approach, and keeping a consistent team – from the bid phase all the way through to delivery – contributed to its success.

For Scott and his colleagues, however, it’s back to the workshop to systematically dismantle the Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter and prepare it for transportation to the USA. As cables are detached, hydraulic hoses disconnected and tracks removed, does it feel strange to see something that has been so carefully and meticulously built, then taken apart? 

“No,” says Scott firmly, with a reminder that this is part of the vehicle’s appeal. “It’s a modular system. It has been built and designed with that intent, so it can be put into shipping containers and sent anywhere in the world on any vessel.”

However, Royal IHC will not yet detach from this transformative experience just yet. Once the Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter arrives in the USA, two of the company’s engineers from the commissioning team will travel to CMI to assist their staff in learning how to operate the machine and supporting them on their first assignment.