Team Specialist Services to take part at the Standard Chartered Dubai 10km Road Race 2018

On 26th January 2018, some of our Specialist Services employees will take part at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2018 event. These intrepid men and women will participate in the 10km Road Race, starting at 9 AM on the Umm Suqeim Road opposite the Madinat Jumeirah and in the shadow of the iconic Burj Al Arab.

With 37 participants, the Team Specialist Services will take part in The Corporate Challenge for the 10km Road Race and they will all do their best to come to the finish line as the ‘Winning Team’.

Understanding that the perfect balance between career and family is a challenge for many people, at Specialist Service we actively promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle and a good work-life balance for all our employees. Seeing that 37 of our team members are going to participate in a 10km run, clearly shows their healthy lifestyle choices, and we look forward to see many more participants in such sports events in future.

All of us at Specialist Services Group wish good luck to the team!

Reinstatement and Modification of Portable Accommodation Modules for Sea Trucks Group

Reinstatement and Modification of Portable Accommodation Modules for Sea Trucks Group

In November 2016, Sea Trucks Group (STG) awarded Specialist Services the contract for the reinstatement and modification of the Accommodation Modules built for STG in 2014, to form a block 11 modules wide and 4 modules high.

Project: Reinstatement and Modification of Portable Accommodation Modules
Client: Sea Trucks Group
End User: INPEX
Location: Australian waters, 890km West of Darwin
Project Completion: 15th May 2017

Project requirements

Sea Trucks Group required reinstatement and modification works on the Accommodation Modules that Specialist Services manufactured and delivered to them in 2014. We have been awarded this reinstatement and modification job based on the excellent work we did on the 2014 project with a fast track execution, including a production schedule of all 48 modules reduced to 16 weeks. The new Accommodation Block was required to be modified in order to provide Accommodation, Locker Room, Washroom, Toilet, Office, Recreation and Conference facilities, accommodating up to 224 personnel on board. The modules were required to be connected to form a block 11 modules wide and 4 modules high.

Within the requirement, the existing Mess Room needed to be converted to a Gymnasium, and the Locker Room and Dry Store to be converted into Recreation Rooms. STG also required communication system upgrades, HVAC improvements, door and panel modifications, installation review and supply of required consumables for the new stacking arrangement, and supply of all materials required to complete the upgrade. Electrical engineering / drawing updates and a module stacking study were also required by STG for this project.

Solution

The project execution by Specialist Services has been carried out in line with STG requirements at the site in Batam, converting the Mess Room into a Gymnasium, and the Locker Room and Dry Store into Recreation Rooms, as per the drawings provided by the client.

Specialist Services team also completed the A/C drainage system upgrade, electrical and Fire & Gas interconnection cabling works, the provision of an Electrical Distribution Panel for each floor, as well as the upgrade of the communication system, which included the relocation of patch panels from outside the module into its interior and mounting required infrastructure to allow the installation of existing switches within the modules.

A total of 44 modules were installed on the Barge, connecting the modules to each other in rows of 11 modules with 4 stacking. The resulting Accommodation Facility was built in compliance with ABS guides for Portable Accommodation Modules and MLC (Maritime Labour Convention 2013).

Conclusion

In line with the project requirements, we provided a highly skilled team of specialists from our Dubai facility to manage the project and carry out the reinstatement and modification works at the client’s venue of choice, a shipyard in Batam, Indonesia.

The project was successfully completed by Specialist Services within the specified timeframe. At the end of the project were issued as built drawings incorporating all the modification works, and Specialist Services supported STG with the documentation requirements for obtaining an updated ABS certification.

The high quality modifications, upgrades and reinstatement works provided by Specialist Services resulted in comfortable living and working environments. All works have been completed to a very high standard and STG Management was very satisfied with Specialist Services’ team performance.

Specialist Services Group encouraging vendors to reduce product packaging volumes

Environmental protection is a fundamental business endeavour at Specialist Services Group. We make every effort to nurture the environment, preserve natural resources and minimise the impact of our products, activities and services on the environment. We constantly communicate about the importance of environmental protection to our people, business partners and other stakeholders.

Our environment management initiatives are based on systematic environmental impact assessments, which form the basis of our Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001:2015 standard. We use resources and energy in a responsible manner and reuse or recycle wherever possible. We are committed to manage waste effectively, prevent pollution, use environmentally friendly material and apply our technical abilities for the reduction of our environmental footprint, particularly in the design and engineering of our products.

Following the recent upgrade of our Environmental Management System to the 2015 standard, we are committed to further reducing our company’s impact on the environment by asking all our vendors for their support in reducing, reusing and recycling their products packaging and other materials.

For this purpose, we are currently sending a letter to all our vendors to motivate and encourage them to support this initiative, aimed to increase our efforts in protecting the environment and preserve natural resources.

But this is just a small part of all we can do to protect our environment. We look forward to our vendors’ support in this initiative, and encourage each and every one of you to also think about all the opportunities you have at work and at home to reduce waste, preserve natural resources and protect the environment.

Don’t wait for others to take the first step. Take action now!

Going digital: Making your work easier with Digital MDBs

Within our environment protection activities, we have implemented various policies and procedures to reduce paper waste, while optimising our internal processes. As part of these initiatives, we have recently introduced an improved format of our products’ Manufacturing Data Books: the Digital MDB.

With the aim of providing higher quality, accurate and easy-to-use MDBs for our Clients, we created the Digital MDB concept, which also supports the timely delivery of our products’ MDBs.

What do we mean by Digital MDB?

The Digital MDB is simply your MDB in a digital format. Instead of delivering you large files of paper documents, our Digital MDB is delivered to you on a USB flash drive or tablet, on which we have uploaded all the documents of the MDB. With this new format, you can take the MDB wherever required, in office or on site, and you can easily find the document you are searching for.

What are the benefits for our Clients?

The key benefits of the Digital MDB for our Clients can be summarised in six short points:

  • Easy Access: Digital documents are easily accessible from any computer and tablet. They can be sent by email, shared on local network drives, uploaded and downloaded through various online file sharing options, accessible by any of your staff members worldwide.
  • Searchable Content: With digital documents, you can easily search for specific words or phrases in order to find the document you need.
  • Faster Delivery: Digital MDBs are much faster to prepare and can be therefore delivered to you faster than traditional hard copy MDBs.
  • Less Space Required: Digital MDBs on tablet or USB flash drive require minimum space for storage, especially compared to large EPC projects that may require a whole cabinet to store dozens of files for only one MDB.
  • Time Savings: Easy access, searchable content and faster delivery represent significant time savings for your staff in accessing the document they need when they need it from any of your international facilities.
  • Cost Savings: We provide Digital MDBs to our Clients free of charge. Based on minimum space of storage required, you also do not have any costs related to their storage. As a further incentive to go digital and to protect the environment, any request of hard copy MDBs will be charged additionally.

Go Green

The Digital MDB concept has been prepared in line with our Environmental Policy with the aim of reducing paper use and waste. Many of our Clients are already using only Digital MDBs, taking advantage of the many benefits.

Help us protect the environment – choose our Digital MDB.

New Specialist Services Group Brochures

We are glad to announce our new brochures, which include the latest corporate information about Specialist Services Group, as well as updated products and services details.

The brochures cover six main categories, including:

  • Specialist Services Group profile
  • Buildings
  • Modular Hire
  • Drilling, Testing, Production and Process Packages
  • Facilities Management Solutions
  • FLEX 33 Accommodation Modules

All digital brochures are available for viewing and download on our Downloads page.

We invite all our website visitors to explore the new brochures. For more information about our products and services you can visit our Contact page in order to choose one of our regional offices, or you can simply send us an email at sales@specserve.com.

Record-breaking customer satisfaction results at Specialist Services

Specialist Services Group is proud to announce another record-breaking result in our Customer Loyalty Score (CLS) with a great achievement in April 2017 – an impressive CLS of 77%.

With the CLS ranging between -100% and +100%, in general, as long as the CLS is positive is felt to be a good achievement, while a CLS of +50% is considered to be excellent. At Specialist Services Group we have achieved our target of 50% for 2015 in June 2015, which has been then overachieved for over a year. Based on these results, we have raised our target to 65% in 2016, and we are still above target with the highest peaks recorded in April 2017 (77%), May 2016 (76%), January 2017 (75%) and December 2016 (73%).

These results reflect a very high level of customer satisfaction with our products and services at various project stages; from estimation, order receipt and engineering, to project completion, product performance and after-sales support services.

With over two years of great customer satisfaction results and their continuous improvement, we look forward to another successful year by providing our customers with quality products and services meeting the highest industry standards.

Indirect Water Bath Heater with Burner Management System

Specialist Services designed and delivered their first skid mounted process heater with SIL 2 rated Burner Management System for Zone II Hazardous Area installation

To provide our clients with solutions that increase the safety and efficiency of their operations, we have engineered and developed an innovative solution for Indirect Water Bath Heaters.

Project: Indirect Water Bath Heater
Location: Kuwait
Project Completion: January 2017

Project requirements

Within one of our latest projects for the provision of a process heater, our client required a gas fired indirect water bath heater along with a SIL 2 rated Burner Management System for Zone II, II A, T3 Hazardous Area installation.

The Burner Management System (BMS) is a safety solution, which is used to start up, monitor and shut down process burners in industrial applications. The complete heater along with the BMS was required to be mounted on a modular skid for ease of transportation. Usually, control systems are placed in air-conditioned rooms in a safe area, but in this case, the site ambient condition was harsh and humid, which is not suitable for control system components.

Solution

Specialist Services designed, engineered and manufactured the indirect water bath heater together with the BMS, in line with all client requirements. The heater is fired by a classified explosion-proof industrial burner. Fuel to the burner is fed through a gas train certified for Zone II installation. The complete combustion, process monitoring and control is achieved through the skid mounted SIL 2 rated BMS.

To mitigate the harsh and humid site environment, the BMS was installed within a SS316 control panel with Z-type Purging and the internal components with conformal coating.

Conclusion

This was an innovative engineering project for Specialist Services, where the Hazardous Area Process Heater was provided with a skid mounted Burner Management System.

This new solution offers various benefits for our clients, including:

  • Increased safety and reliability: The BMS minimises the risk of venting natural gas, which could lead to unstable and dangerous situations. With the touch of a button the system can be started or stopped. The BMS also has an automatic shutdown in case of any fault detection, thus minimising risks and losses.
  • Improved efficiency: The BMS provides an increase in process heater efficiency as well as a decrease of unplanned shutdowns.
  • Ease of monitoring and control: Complete process monitoring and control can be done through the HMI screen, while all process details can be shared with the DCS (client control system).
  • Environmental benefits: Aside from the obvious environmental threat from a natural gas explosion, with the use of the BMS, the burner’s increased efficiency reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

With one of the Specialist Services core values being to pursue quality and safety in all aspects of our work, this innovative solution represents a further confirmation of our exceptional engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

77-module 150 man TLQ complex for Zakher Marine

Specialist Services designed and delivered their single largest rental contract till date for temporary living quarters (TLQ)

Zakher Marine International awarded Specialist Services a rental contract to deliver a 150 man, ABS certified TLQ complex for a minimum contract duration of 615 days.

Project: 77-module Temporary Living Quarters Complex
Client: Zakher Marine International
End User: Zakum Development Company (ZADCO)
Location: QMS Pearl jack up barge offshore Abu Dhabi
Project Completion: The project was handed over to the client on 1st September 2016

Project requirements

Zakher Marine required from Specialist Services the supply and installation of a TLQ solution designed to accommodate 150 POB, complete with a stairwell and walkway system on a minimal laydown area on the QMS Pearl Platform. The client specified A60 as the required fire rating for the modular complex in addition to required ABS certification for all modules. Most of the units were required to be Accommodation Modules, while additional units were required to be used as recreation rooms.

Solution

Specialist Services supplied Zakher Marine with the TLQ complex in line with all of the Client’s requirements, including 75 Accommodation Modules and two modules combined to form a larger recreation room, all ABS certified. To comply with the quantity of units required, during the short lead time provided, Specialist Services manufactured 10 new units and received another 10 units from their Singapore facility.

The delivery of all units along with the fabricated stairway and walkway system from Specialist Services facility in Jebel Ali to the Client’s site in Abu Dhabi required multiple trailers in rotation. On site, Specialist Services personnel showed outstanding professionalism and technical know-how in coordinating with the Client and other contractors throughout the installation of the modules on board the platform.

A concentrated effort by Specialist Services experienced team was necessary to facilitate the level of up front detailed engineering and commercial input required by Zakher Marine. Specialist Services teams in Jebel Ali yard and on site in Abu Dhabi worked tirelessly for four weeks to complete the project in this short lead time, demonstrating outstanding dedication and excellent work.

Conclusion

The TLQ complex has been installed on board of Zakher Marine’s new QMS Pearl jack up barge in September 2016, to be used for accommodating ZADCO personnel offshore Abu Dhabi for the duration of this contract.

This is one of the largest TLQ projects in the world today, which was awarded to Specialist Services based on their ability to design, supply and certify this complex project with a delivery to site lead time of only four weeks.

Specialist Services showcased its market leading technical expertise and, more importantly, its high standards of professionalism and teamwork. With the outstanding job done by everyone involved, an appreciation letter was issued to Specialist Services by Zakher Marine, where the Client congratulated the team for their dedication, hard work and successful completion of the project.

The TLQ complex is currently on rental at the QMS Pearl jack up barge offshore Abu Dhabi.

Refurbishment of Accommodation Units

Labtech Services Limited successfully completed a refurbishment project with a high standard finishing that significantly increased the life-span of existing accommodation areas

In January 2015, an Aberdeen-based Drilling Company awarded Labtech Services Limited, a Specialist Services Group Company, a contract for upgrade and refurbishment of office spaces, mud laboratories and recreation areas on-board their drilling rig during the quayside visit to Invergordon.

Project: Refurbishment of Accommodation Areas
Client: Aberdeen-based Drilling Company
Location: Drilling rig offshore Shetland – North Sea
Project Completion: 17th May 2015

Project requirements

In January 2015, at the request of the client’s Rig Manager, Labtech was given the opportunity to supply two outfitters to carry out a destruct programme on-board the drilling rig, during the rig tow from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Invergordon, Rosshire. During the destruct programme, the client requested a full survey and report of the current status within the accommodation. Labtech submitted a full report with budgets and recommendations for upgrades of office spaces, mud laboratories and recreation areas.

The project timeline was set at 6 weeks and one of the key elements of the project was that the client had to have confidence in Labtech to complete the execution of the project prior to the rig sail-out.

Solution

Labtech executed surveys for each area and provided regular estimates of labour and materials quotations, designs, discussed changes, procured materials and delivered the complete scope on site. Due to the limited timescale of this project, the Labtech team ensured that the procurement of materials, work packs and labour resource was in place for the arrival of the rig at Quayside.

Following the extension of the project timeline to a total of 18 weeks, Labtech scope of work grew considerably with additional areas identified and requiring refurbishment. In addition to the original scope, and at the request of the client, following the high standard of finish to the original areas, Labtech were given the opportunity of increasing the scope of work with a further 5 areas for refurbishment during the extended period at Quayside.

Bespoke furniture such as workstations has been manufactured for the required upgrades and refurbishment, together with lighting, ceiling, wallcoverings and flooring, all of which had to be on site within the required timeframe and with high quality finishing.

Surveys and quotations have been completed and submitted to the client almost on a daily basis in order to progress with additional requirements. Labtech management travelled each week to site in order to liaise with client about all requirements and work progress.

Accommodation units – before:                                                 Accommodation units – after:

Mud Laboratory – before:                                                           Mud Laboratory – after:

Mud Logging Laboratory – before:                                             Mud Logging Laboratory – after:

Cinema / Smokers Room – before:                                             Cinema / Smokers Room – after:

Conclusion

During the time at Quayside, the 7 man offshore fit-out team worked diligently ensuring that the scope was carried out as per client’s specification to a high standard, in a safe manner resulting in over 5800 man-hours without incidents / accidents.

The high quality refurbishment work provided the client with more comfortable living and working environments as well as a significantly increased life-span of their current accommodation areas.

All areas identified by the client, that were subsequently quoted and accepted, have been completed to a very high standard prior to the rig departing Invergordon, throughout the project assistance from the client’s personnel on-board and management staff during the upgrades has been excellent.

Bespoke Permit Office and Tea Shack

Specialist Services Group designed and delivered a bespoke rental solution for a Permit Office and a Tea Shack to be used on an accommodation vessel in the North Sea

In July 2014, Specialist Services was awarded a rental contract to deliver a Permit Office and a Tea Shack to support their client’s operation on an accommodation vessel in the North Sea for a period of 6 months.

Project: Permit Office and Tea Shack
Location: Accommodation vessel in the North Sea
Project Delivery: August 2014
Rental Period: 180 days

Project requirements

Specialist Services received a rental order from a client through Labtech Services Limited, a Specialist Services Company based in Aberdeen. The requirement included four 20ft office units to be converted into two bespoke units: a permit office and a tea shack.

Solution

The project was extremely complex in terms of deliverables for this multi-room, joined and pressurised hazardous area certified module.

In line with the client’s requirements and specifications, Specialist Services designed and modified four of their standard 20ft A60 office modules, by combining two 20ft modules as double-wide modular units, constructed to provide the permit office and tea shack. The modifications on the four modules were executed whilst maintaining all of the modules existing ATEX, DNV, A60 and CSC certification.

Conclusion

This was the first order Specialist Services received from the client and they had committed to an extremely short lead time of only 2 weeks. Due to the close coordination between Labtech and Specialist Services projects, engineering and production across all disciplines, the project was seamless in the execution phase and everything was successfully completed on time.