New hook for Henriksen

A new quick release off-load lifting hook has been introduced by H Henriksen of Norway at this year’s Seawork exhibition.

The new hook, which is principally for use with emergency rescue boats, is apparently the first in the world to be compliant with the newly introduced NORSOK R-002 lifting equipment regulations.

Ole Rasmus Undrum, sales manager, H Henriksen, told Maritime Journal: “The new hook allows for a much greater load for a smaller vessel. And the NORSOK regulation guarantees the safety of the hook in the market. What we have to remember is that we are not just lifting boats, but people.”

The new Henriksen NORHMK hook range are able to perform to their full load capacity regardless of the angle of the boat in relation to the lifting cable.

This is important because it has been recognised that lateral loads can impose significant strains, so the new hook features a specially designed swivel that pivots in all directions and enables the hook to accept a load from any direction.

The hook is certified for use with loads of between five and 15 tonnes and is also capable of holding loads up to nine times greater than its certified capacity. This is an independent move that surpasses the existing SOLAS requirement for lifting hooks to be tested to just six times their certified load.

To ensure safe operation during lowering, a crew member removes a safety pin and releases the hook handle. As soon as the boat touches the water and its weight comes off the cable, the hook opens automatically. This eliminates the risk of the hook being opened when the boat is still some height above a trough in the waves.

Henriksen engineers said that boat operators should pay close attention to the long term stresses to which their hooks are exposed and warned that they should never be tempted to cut corners with their metallurgical quality, design or maintenance.To this end, Henriksen Hooks service and re-certify their hooks for use every five years.

The NORSOK regs have been formulated by the Norwegian petroleum industry and are intended to increase the levels of safety principally within Norwegian waters for Norwegian-based vessels. But they are also expected to set a new benchmark for safety standards in the offshore industry globally.