T
ech file
B
eing safe on board any workboat has never been easier.
That’s because when the Sabine Pilots in Port Arthur,
Texas took delivery of their all new all-aluminum pi-
lot boat, the Port Arthur, in May of last year, the vessel
came with all the bells and whistles that operators have
come to expect from tonnage produced by Gladding-
Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, MA. For its part, the
Gladding-Hearn name has over time become synonymous
with cutting edge pilot boats, and the Port Arthur was no
different. In this case, though – and with the blessing of
Gladding-Hearn President Peter Duclos – it also came
with a Harken TR31 Tight Radius rail and trolley system.
The deep-V hull vessel designed by C. Raymond Hunt
Associates is a Chesapeake class pilot boat, measuring 53.6
feet overall, with a 17.8-foot beam and a 4.8-foot draft. It
is also the fi rst U.S.-based commercial vessel to have the
innovative safety device from Harken on board. The Sa-
bine Pilots couldn’t be happier.
Captain Andrew Guidry, a 12-year veteran of the Sabine
Pilots, told MarineNews, that the TR31 system, running
port to starboard on the boat, “gives us a sense of confi -
dence when on deck.” With just one boat with the sys-
tem installed, Guidry said in January, “We’re look at doing
more of this and certainly, we won’t build another boat
without it.” Beyond that, he added, “We’ll also consider
it for retrofi t on our other boat during next yards period.”Tethered: Never Bound
The Tight Radius rail and trolley system is designed to work
as an adjustable anchorage point for fall restraint on marinevessels. At the same time, Harken Industrial’s TR31 Tight
Radius rail and trolley system prevents the binding that
bothers deck crew most about safety tethers. Inside the com-
pact aluminum trolley‚ four anti-friction rollers engage both
sides of the rail‚ smoothly and securely following elevation
changes and rail radius contours as tight as 200 mm. Crew
never have to unhook‚ but always remain safely tethered.
The Harken TR31 continuous rail and trolley system al-
lows a crew member, fully-harnessed and securely tethered
to the trolley, to move freely along the rail with fall restraint
security during inspection and maintenance, or when as-
sisting in pilot transfer. Both rail and trolley are fabricated
of high-strength, marine-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, a ma-
terial proven to withstand the harshest environments on
the planet. An optional brake trolley with manual screwpin
keeps the tether trolley immobile when not in use.
The compact trolley fi ts neatly into narrow decks and
small work spaces. It features Delrin rollers for smooth, un-
interrupted movement for the rail’s full length. The TR31
has been tested to 1200 kg (2645 lb) -- 2 x MCA require-
ments. The Harken Tight Radius Rail and Trolley system
can be either surface or stanchion mounted and is easy to
install at initial build or as a retrofi t. Trolleys require no
lubrication. Rails are composed of straight and curved sec-
tions that change direction. 200 mm radiused sections are
standard. Straight track can be bent to 350 mm or greater.
The result is uninterrupted‚ secure travel around the deck.
If a fall load is applied, the trolley will stop free rolling to
provide fall restraint protection. Sabine’s Guidry says sim-
ply, “We couldn’t ask for a better system.”Harken’s TR31
Tight Radius rail
and trolley system
Trolley design Rail design Delrin rollers
Strong: tested to 2645 LB Vertical & horizontal operating planes No lubrication required
Compact: minimum intrusion 1.3 m unsupported span Low friction
Multidirectional load bearing High-strength, marine grade aluminum Smooth movement
Anodized: corrosion resistant Countersunk M10 fasteners/fl ush fi tting Roller fully supported on both endsThe TR31 at a Glance ...http://www.marinelink.com MN^47