Delivering adaptable helideck engineering for evolving offshore demands

“With global demand for desalination infrastructure increasing – particularly in regions such as Australia – offshore construction projects are becoming more complex and remote. This places greater emphasis on offshore support units that can provide safe, efficient helicopter access, while also meeting increasingly strict regulatory and safety standards.

For McConnell Dowell, this challenge arose during the preparation of the MCD 914 unit for deployment on a desalination project. The unit required a fully compliant helideck, but also needed the flexibility to remove it for use on future projects.

GustoMSC was engaged to provide basic design engineering and consultancy for the development of a fully removable helideck support structure. Our objective was to ensure full compliance with modern offshore helideck regulations, while maintaining structural integrity and operational flexibility.

A key success factor in this project was the cross-functional teamwork within GustoMSC. Designing a detachable helideck required close collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines, combining regulatory expertise, structural engineering, and practical offshore experience. This collaboration enabled us to develop a solution that was both innovative and fit for purpose.

The completed helideck now enables efficient helicopter transport for personnel and critical supplies, improving access, reducing transit times, and increasing operational reliability. As a result, McConnell Dowell is better positioned to deploy the MCD 914 in demanding remote construction environments, thereby contributing directly to more efficient project execution.

Receiving confirmation from the client that fabrication, assembly, and installation proceeded smoothly – and that they were highly satisfied with the outcome – was a strong validation of the engineering approach and teamwork behind this project.”

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