Subsea mooring connector specialist, First Subsea has appointed Lee Hanson as design manager responsible for on-going development of the company's market leading ball and taper connector technology.

Formerly senior mechanical engineer with Soil Machine Dynamics, Mr Hanson has over 20 year's experience of subsea engineering, including ROV, wellhead control systems and subsea ploughs and a joint holder of an Active Heave Compensation system patent.

The first company to develop and deploy ball and taper-based connector technology, First Subsea's Ballgrab connection system is widely used for subsea moorings, buoy pull-in tools, diverless bend stiffener connectors for production risers and umbilicals, pipeline recovery tools, Autoswage pipeline repair tools and hose connectors.

“Innovation is critical to our business,” says Brian Green, general manager, First Subsea. “Lee Hanson's breadth of experience enables us to consolidate and enhance our existing products, as well as developing new ball and taper applications to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry.”

New markets for First Subsea's ball and taper technology include drilling handling tools, pipeline handling tools and marine energy moorings and handling solutions for wind, wave and tidal devices.

Lee Hanson will be based in First Subsea's Lancaster (UK) office.

Tags: First Subsea Ltd