Briggs win 3 year MoD Tactical Fuel Handling Equipment Contract 

Briggs Marine has won the contract for storage and maintenance of the Tactical Fuel Handling Equipment (TFHE) for the next 3 years. In September 2009 Briggs Marine took delivery of the Tactical Fuel Handling Equipment (TFHE) System from Salvage & Marine Operations of the MoD.

Similar to a Single Point Mooring (SPM), the system is used to supply fuel to and from the shore where no established fuelling infrastructure is present. This rapid deployment system has been designed to be installed by a single vessel without the need for divers to connect the subsea hoses and the components are suitably robust to survive the rigors of service. The buoy alone weighs 44 tons, which requires specialist handling equipment to transport, load and deploy.

In October 2009, Briggs Marine assisted Salvage & Marine Operations in conducting a full scale exercise of the equipment. The system requires a vessel capable of delivering in excess of 100 ton Bollard pull in order to sufficiently bury the SPM anchors. Salvage & Marine Operations chartered the Viking Troll, a large Anchor handler as the mother vessel for the exercise. The exercise was conducted in the Firth of Forth with Briggs Marine staff onboard to assist. Over 6 days the equipment was cycled through the three evolutions of mobilisation, operation and demobilisation.

On completion of the exercise the equipment was de-mobilised into the Briggs Marine depot in Burntisland where it is currently undergoing maintenance. The system will be stored in a condition that will allow for its deployment subsequent to 30 days notice of a requirement.