MacGregor has expanded its offshore technology portfolio with a certified floating-to-floating personnel transfer capability for its Horizon gangway and a new bow transfer system for liquid carbon dioxide operations.

The Horizon gangway has been certified by DNV under the DNV-ST-0358 standard following a successful sea acceptance test. The approval covers motion-compensated personnel transfers between two vessels moving independently, eliminating the need for a fixed landing point during the transfer.

MacGregor sees potential applications across floating production, storage and offloading units, floating rigs, offshore wind arrays and service fleets. The capability could enable crew changes and maintenance support to take place offshore rather than being planned around vessel calls at port.

Instead of the conventional docking head used when connecting to fixed structures, the floating-to-floating arrangement uses a purpose-designed flap at the tip of the gangway. A LiDAR-based tracking system monitors relative movement in real time and supplies data to the gangway’s motion-compensation controls, helping maintain the connection while both vessels are moving.

The new capability extends MacGregor’s existing Horizon gangway family. According to the company, it can also be retrofitted or added as an upgrade to units already in service.

Separately, MacGregor has developed a Liquid Carbon Dioxide Bow Transfer System intended to transfer LCO2 directly from carriers to offshore wells, rigs and injection facilities. The concept is designed to create a direct link between carbon capture plants and offshore injection units, potentially avoiding the need for intermediate onshore storage and conditioning infrastructure.

The system draws on MacGregor’s Bow Loading System technology, which has been deployed in the oil and gas industry since the 1970s. The company said approximately 79% of the LCO2 design is based on field-proven technology, while the remaining elements consist of modifications and components engineered specifically for handling liquid carbon dioxide.

Seal materials have been tested with SINTEF under LCO2 and rapid gas decompression conditions. MacGregor has designed the equipment to withstand repeated pressure cycles and temperatures as low as minus 57°C. Its intended operating envelope includes sea states with wave heights of five to six metres and water depths of up to 150 metres.

The transfer hardware is planned as a common basis for four system configurations. These cover low- and medium-pressure operations at 30 to 60 bar, as well as high-pressure operations at 300 bar. The architectures include options for direct reservoir injection through seabed swivels or disconnectable turrets.

MacGregor joined the EU-funded COREu research and innovation consortium in early 2025 and is carrying out technology qualification with DNV. The planning stage has been completed, including the qualification basis, technology and threat assessments, and the qualification plan. Prototype testing and demonstration are expected in mid-2027.