MDL Blogs

Reducing the Risk

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Preparation is key to a long life subsea
Preparation is key to a long life subsea

“The beginning is the most important part of the work"- Plato

Forward thinking with Holland
Forward thinking with Holland

International Trade - Our Regional Focus

Ensuring peak performance for FPSO and platform owners in 2024
Ensuring peak performance for FPSO and platform owners in 2024

Bespoke maintenance solutions, predictive insights and continuous improvements for the smooth operation of your offshore assets.

Reducing the risk of cable failures
Reducing the risk of cable failures

Technological advancements in the energy industry - coupled with economies of scale - are increasing the viability of large offshore windfarms.

Brazil means Business
Brazil means Business

International Trade - our regional focus series

The perfect home for your flexible
The perfect home for your flexible

The variety of storage equipment available in the energy industry’s portfolio can cause a head spin to the uninitiated...

Three is the number for *just* energy transition
Three is the number for *just* energy transition

The energy transition is key for addressing climate change - but what it looks like is a complex and multifaceted challenge.

Bring in the Experts
Bring in the Experts

Challenges surge and recede in the energy industry. How do you make sure you continue to grow regardless of the market conditions?

Flex Lay Myths: Tensioner capabilities
Flex Lay Myths: Tensioner capabilities

Selecting tensioners based on their line pull capacity alone may be a costly mistake - we explain why in this myth-busting blog.

Flex-lay Myths: Tensioner capabilities - part 2
Flex-lay Myths: Tensioner capabilities - part 2

Here are all the tools you need for identifying your ideal tensioner enabler.

Unlock the power of proactive asset maintenance
Unlock the power of proactive asset maintenance

Preserving value while minimising costs: here's why you need to be proactive with your Asset Integrity Management.

Flex Lay Myths: Redundant reel drives
Flex Lay Myths: Redundant reel drives

Let's explore the topic of reel handling systems - and why that's not the same as reel "drive" systems.

Flex Lay Myths: Redundant reel drives - part 2
Flex Lay Myths: Redundant reel drives - part 2

Putting the benefits in motion: Unveiling the true potential of RDS

A flexible workaround the FOW vessel challenge
A flexible workaround the FOW vessel challenge

Tackling the looming challenge ahead of floating offshore wind developments with an alternative - and proven - approach.

Innovation – your best transferrable skill
Innovation – your best transferrable skill

Transferrable skills are often referenced in the recruitment process – but can they be applied to companies as a whole?

Lifting the lid on AME at international crane event
Lifting the lid on AME at international crane event

MDL AME is offering a viable and cost-effective service to support offshore mechanical lifting equipment - from surveys to complete control system replacements.

UK and Norway: partners in progress
UK and Norway: partners in progress

International Trade – our regional focus series

Growing in West Africa
Growing in West Africa

International Trade - Our Regional Focus

Flex Lay Myths: "Equipment is equipment at the end of the day"
Flex Lay Myths: "Equipment is equipment at the end of the day"

Oh, do we get that a lot - although mostly it’s written in-between the lines...

Crane and deck maintenance - the turnkey package
Crane and deck maintenance - the turnkey package

Regular maintenance comes part and parcel with lifting and pulling equipment - but as expert in this field, MDL AME can provide tailored turnkey support.

Learnings from projects to front end
Learnings from projects to front end

Equipment choice for a flexible installation or retrieval can have a significant impact on the overall project timescales and budget. Thankfully, expert help is on ...

MDL Vlogs: WA strategy and technology in region
MDL Vlogs: WA strategy and technology in region

Africa is an exciting place for the energy sector.

A look inside AME
A look inside AME

A turnkey package for equipment life extension requires a broad skillset, backed up by experience...

Do you really need that vessel?
Do you really need that vessel?

These are some of the most challenging times for everyone around the world, and in Oil & Gas in particular - and times like this ...

Enabling Africa
Enabling Africa

The year 2020 has put breaks on too many global operations; but MDL's VP Africa Michael Blease-Shepley is determined to see his region continue to ...

Asset Maintenance & Engineering – A new beginning
Asset Maintenance & Engineering – A new beginning

Commercial Developments Manager Marvin Morrison explains how MDL's 21-year track record - and the in-house skillset amassed in that time - set the foundations for ...

The Ultimate Health Check
The Ultimate Health Check

As the pandemic spread, the world went into shutdown... but One Team MDL has been helping clients to keep going. Operations Director George Mackintosh looks ...

One Team MDL during COVID-19
One Team MDL during COVID-19

In times of a global crisis, the One Team MDL extends to all our clients, partners and colleagues.

A few thoughts for 2020
A few thoughts for 2020

Another year draws to a close, and MDL CEO Derek Smith is feeling positive about what's around the corner...

Celebrating 20 years of MDL
Celebrating 20 years of MDL

As MDL reaches the memorable milestone, CEO Derek Smith looks at what made the journey to 20 years in business possible - and the meaning ...

Unlocking West Africa's potential
Unlocking West Africa's potential

MDL BD & Commercial Manager Dave Gardiner explores why the company's portable pipelay spread is just the thing West Africa requires.

It all adds up for single-sourcing
It all adds up for single-sourcing

Planning a wedding is no small matter... neither is planning for a pipelay project. MDL's Senior Structural Engineer Steven Ross delves into both.

Mexico: A story of Firsts
Mexico: A story of Firsts

As the MDL flex-lay spread is heading for its first project offshore Mexico, our Americas VP Andrew Blaquiere delves deeper into the opportunities - and ...

At Your Service
At Your Service

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts”, the saying goes. That’s so true in a multi-faceted business like ours.

Out with SWL - in with MOLL
Out with SWL - in with MOLL

MDL Lead Engineer Steve Morrison decodes the newly-released DNV-GL Recommended Practice document on pipelay equipment.

Let's start at the Front End
Let's start at the Front End

Efficiencies can be found at every step of the project, but most significant ones are gained at the planning stage - with the help of ...

Mexico: bridging the gap to faster recovery
Mexico: bridging the gap to faster recovery

As Mexico continues to fuel its oil and gas revolution, a helpful hand with North Sea roots can bring the country’s offshore pipelay operations ahead ...

Halving the headache with a simple approach
Halving the headache with a simple approach

Over-complication of the back deck isn’t a means of improving the quality of operation, believes MDL director, Mike Gaskin - and a double-tensioner solution for ...

Three lessons about change
Three lessons about change

As MDL cements its US presence with Subsea Tieback, VP MDL Americas Andrew Blaquiere investigates what this year's show has taught us about change - ...

Instinct, Matured
Instinct, Matured

Great things take time to mature... and so does engineering excellence. As MDL reaches 18 years in business, CEO Derek Smith recaps on the company's ...

Safe as MDL
Safe as MDL

Strengthening the safety of oil and gas operations doesn't have to mean higher expenditure - with the right tools, H&S and cost reduction go hand ...

Calculated Moves
Calculated Moves

As MDL adds a brand new tensioner to its Offshore Service fleet in a challenging market, BD & commercial manager Dave Gardiner explains how going ...

24/7 Ambassadors
24/7 Ambassadors

You’re only as good as your last job, they say... but when you're backed up by a great team, every job is a success, believes ...

Turning the frown upside down at Expo
Turning the frown upside down at Expo

The 2017 Subsea Expo felt quieter than the previous years - a clear sign of the market's continued struggles. And yet, some discussions left the ...

A different cup of tea
A different cup of tea

It's a paradox of our industry: there's hunger for innovation, but few willing to champion it. MDL CEO Derek Smith takes a view on the ...

Asking the right questions
Asking the right questions

Cost savings in flex lay are there for the taking - but are you finding them? MDL commercial director Mike Gaskin believes an open dialog ...

An ex-Captain’s perspective
An ex-Captain’s perspective

From sailing the seas to championing reduced vessel time - MDL Americas president Mark Williamson explains the attraction of facing industry challenges with the back ...

That's one New Year's resolution worth sticking to
That's one New Year's resolution worth sticking to

As the New Year loses its novelty factor, it's tempting to abandon ambitious plans for the months ahead... But 2016 can be better than you ...

Selling value: The toughest challenge with supply chain
Selling value: The toughest challenge with supply chain

In the current difficult market of low oil price, can we afford to be penny-wise and pound-foolish?

Let their hair down: Investment that pays back
Let their hair down: Investment that pays back

We're all human: commercial director Mike Gaskin talks about leadership and team-building in a difficult market

Cutting costs: Why we’re all in it together
Cutting costs: Why we’re all in it together

Whenever times get tough in the oil and gas industry it’s the big boys that take the blame but, more often than not, it’s the ...

Innovation: Speaking the same language
Innovation: Speaking the same language

If it’s not broken, why fix it?

The Budget: A step in the right direction
The Budget: A step in the right direction

"The Budget contained some good news for an oil and gas industry that’s been operating under dark clouds for several months."

Smart thinking at Subsea Expo: It all figures
Smart thinking at Subsea Expo: It all figures

“The figures for Subsea Expo 2015 make for impressive reading. Around 6,500 people – up 23% on last year – visited the event at Aberdeen ...