DLBA Structural Designs Help Energy Efforts

The bow extension needed to enable Delta Escape to push up against offshore windmills was built out of aluminum, and added on to the existing aluminum hull structure. Our team created the push knee appendage using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to predict the stresses in the structure ensuring it was sufficient to withstand the loads imparted by the wind farm structure on the bow of the craft in heavy seas. 

The Delta Escape project represents the second project where Cape Henry and DLBA have teamed up to support Dominion Energy’s efforts. In 2017, the DLBA team designed and installed retractable escape ladders for the Cove Point Natural Gas Terminal. The ladders are stored well above the water line to prevent access by intruders and in the event of an emergency, the ladders articulate and lower to the water’s surface. Personnel are able to quickly make use of the ladders to board and escape via life rafts and in this way avoid direct contact with the water.