Salunda has launched the Latch Hawk 2 fingerboard latch monitoring device, marking a significant step forward in preventing dropped objects and improving safety during pipe handling on offshore drilling rigs.
Latch Hawk 2 provides a direct measurement of fingerboard latch status in real-time to prevent fingerboard DROPS incidents, eliminating the need for a spotter or camera.
Second generation improvements to the patented wireless monitoring device include new sensor technology with better shock and vibration resistance, a more robust design, cloud-based digital condition monitoring, and greater than seven-year battery life, which extends on the previous iteration by over two years.
The system integrates with all major OEM drilling control systems (including DrillView, Cyberbase, and Amphion) and can be rapidly installed using a patented ratcheting mechanism, adding an extra layer of protection against DROPS incidents for legacy fingerboards.
Improvement in the retrofittable design means there is no operational downtime during Latch Hawk 2 installation.
Latch Hawk 2 installation. (Image credit: Salunda)
Alan Finlay, Salunda CEO, said: “Our engineering team has carefully evolved the design of Latch Hawk, incorporating experience from field deployment and customer feedback with a next generation sensor technology and improved power management. We have realized a device that is more robust with exceptionally long battery life.”
“Protecting crews from DROPs incidents is vital in an offshore environment and this new technology helps to ensure that workers are safer when operating in red zones. Potential risk is mitigated as much as it can possibly be.”
The launch of the first generation of Latch Hawk wireless technology in 2017 was a technological breakthrough for fingerboard management and eliminated the need for spotters and cameras.
Latch Hawk works by using wireless sensors to determine the status of a latch. This data is then compared to the command status of the latch sent from the drilling control system. If an inconsistency is flagged by the system, an alert will be triggered within the control system HMI and a pipe racker interlock will be engaged preventing the chance of dropped pipe or other major failures. The system is IECEX, ATEX and INMETRO certified for use in Zone 2.
Latch Hawk is already deployed on dozens of rigs globally, with the new device now shipping as standard. It is also backwards compatible with existing systems, with multiple rigs having been upgraded with the patent protected technology (Patent Nos. US 11,402,205, US 11,015,403, US 10,597,953, US 10,240,408, US 10,962,392, US 10,337,894, US 10,247,586, US 10,132,660, EP 3708765, EP 3538738, EP 3482033, EP 3460173, EP 3009594, BR 112019000094 and multiple patents globally).
