Salunda Launches Upgraded Latch Hawk 2 Monitoring Device for Offshore Safety

Salunda, a UK-based company specializing in red-zone safety monitoring technology, has introduced an enhanced version of its monitoring device designed to enhance safety during pipe handling operations and prevent dropped object incidents on offshore drilling platforms.

The latest iteration of the Latch Hawk 2 monitoring device, according to Salunda, serves the same purpose as its predecessor by alerting drillers of unsafe fingerboard latch conditions within the control system interface and triggering alarms to prevent dropped object incidents.

Originally launched in 2017, the first generation of Latch Hawk wireless technology marked a significant advancement in fingerboard management, eliminating the need for spotters and cameras for visual inspections and latch status verification.

Given the challenges associated with visually detecting failing latches, which can lead to severe injuries and costly downtime, Salunda developed a solution to address this issue. The Latch Hawk device can predict failures and provide real-time confirmation through its fingerboard latch monitoring solution.

The process involves retrofitting Latch Hawk’s fingerboard sensors onto each latch, with real-time latch status being wirelessly streamed to the drilling control system via sensors. This setup offers drillers a live visual display of the fingerboard latch, enabling them to monitor latch positions for potential mismatches.

If an inconsistency is detected, an alert is immediately triggered within the control system interface, activating a pipe racker interlock to prevent the risk of dropped pipes or other critical failures.

Alan Finlay, CEO of Salunda, stated, “Our engineering team has meticulously refined the design of Latch Hawk, incorporating insights from field deployment and customer input to enhance sensor technology and power management. We have developed a more durable device with significantly extended battery life.”

The second-generation advancements of the Latch Hawk 2 monitoring device include improved sensor technology with enhanced shock and vibration resistance, a sturdier design, and cloud-based digital condition monitoring. Additionally, the device’s battery life now exceeds seven years, two years longer than the previous version.

Salunda’s other safety solution, CrewHawk, has recently been implemented on four offshore platforms in Guyana. This red-zone monitoring tool enables the tracking of workers and equipment for enhanced safety measures.