Singapore Crane Barge Selects Clear-Com Intercom

The first weatherproof Freespeak II intercom on a Singapore crane barge has been installed after a demo of interference-free communication at a distance of more than 200 metres.

Dredging International Asia Pacific (DIAP) has selected a Clear-Com FreeSpeak II wireless communication solution to keep its crane operators and riggers connected across the vast Singapore-based crane barge Delta Prince. The FreeSpeak II solution was supplied and installed by Clear-Com’s authorised dealer Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd. (E&E), an award-winning AV solutions provider with more than 65 years of experience and the region’s leading systems integrator with customers in Singapore and around the region.

DIAP is the Asian subsidiary of the DEME Group, a world leader in the highly specialised fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation. DIAP specialises in the construction and development of ports and harbours, artificial islands, estuarial dams, canals and inland waterways, dyke construction and reinforcement, beach replenishment and coastal protection.

The company was looking for a full-duplex wireless intercom solution that would work reliably across a wide roaming area, given the considerable size of the canal barge ‘Delta Prince’, which measures over 70m in length and over 25m in breadth. The chosen solution also had to tolerate the harsh outdoor environment on board the crane barge, where it would be subjected to diverse weather conditions.

“Our colleagues in Europe had used Clear-Com before and they recommended that we approach Clear-Com for assistance,” said Raj Baiju, technical superintendent at Dredging International Asia Pacific. “Clear-Com set up a demo of FreeSpeak II for us which was most impressive. The wireless beltpack was more than 200m away from the transceiver’s antenna during the demo and we did not have any interference issues; the range of the FreeSpeak II greatly exceeded our expectations.”

Baiju also praised the rugged build of the FreeSpeak II system. “FreeSpeak II was the perfect product for this installation – since the antennas and beltpacks are IP rated, we don’t have to worry about them getting damaged in the rain or when working outdoors,” he said.

Barge master Willem De Jong commented “I find it safer to work with Clear-Com FreeSpeak System and there is no interference in the conversation between the crane and the bridge. I have been using it for almost half a year now.”

_{Source: avinteractive.com}