Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer is an essential component of the global energy industry, enabling hydrocarbons to be transported, traded, and consumed worldwide. With growing demand for fuel, STS operations have never been more important. Despite the ongoing energy transition, STS remains a critical and complex challenge for operators and oil majors.
Whether transferring crude oil or gasoline, STS operations demand careful planning, the correct equipment, and robust procedures. While the process is fundamentally simple, the scale and operational environment introduce inherent risks. Combined with increased global consumption and the effects of climate change, advanced safety systems play a vital role in protecting personnel, assets, and the marine environment.
Emergency Release Couplings (ERCs) provide essential protection against vessel drift-off, helping to prevent injuries, manifold and hose damage, and environmental spills.
Traditional STS operations rely on basic methods, including mooring lines, hoses, and flange connections. These systems limit decoupling speed and require manual intervention. In addition, non-dedicated crews are often not trained to manage varying technologies, increasing operational risk.
Secc’s HIGHFLOW Emergency Release Coupling ONE (HF-ERC-1) offers a robust and cost-effective solution for modern STS operations. Designed for reliability and simplicity, the HF-ERC-1 requires no supporting control systems while delivering rapid emergency disconnection and enhanced safety.
It provides operators with confidence, reduces operational risk, and improves overall efficiency—helping ensure safe, compliant, and dependable STS transfers in today’s demanding energy market.
Our Emergency Release Couplings (ERCs) are designed to protect your crew, your vessels, and the marine environment while helping you complete transfers quickly and reliably.
The HIGHFLOW Emergency Release Coupling (HF-ERC-1) is Secc’s cost effective solution for critical STS applications. Its core function is to act as a fail-safe breakaway coupling, providing an instantaneous, safe, and spill-free point of disconnection in an emergency, such as a sudden vessel drift-off or hose over-tensioning incident.
No obstruction – No Flow Limit – No Spill to the Environment and No downtime.
The HF-ERC features a full-bore flow path, zero-spill performance, and a unique pressure-balanced mechanism.
Secc’s patented technology provides distinct, measurable advantages over conventional couplings, directly addressing the most critical challenges of STS operations.
Our full-bore design has no internal valve trim or obstructions, allowing you to transfer cargo at the maximum possible rate. This reduces the total time your vessels spend alongside each other, significantly lowering the window of operational risk.
The HF-ERC is engineered for zero spill and zero leak performance, automatically sealing both the hose and vessel connection upon activation. This provides the highest level of environmental protection, ensuring you meet stringent regulatory standards and avoid costly cleanup operations.
Secc’s unique pressure-balanced design eliminates the internal hydrostatic forces that cause violent, uncontrolled disconnections in other couplings. This ensures a safe, controlled separation without dangerous thrust, protecting your crew from harm and your vessel’s manifold and hose equipment from damage.
Unlike competitor systems that can take hours or days to reset, the HF-ERC features rapid resetting. Your crew can reset the coupling in minutes offshore without special tools, allowing you to resume and complete the transfer quickly, saving valuable time and preventing costly diversions.
