FROG Range

From the tropics to the Arctic, in high seas and extreme weather, the FROG has proven itself through experience. With over 800 in operation, our original, reliable range provides a million safe transfers every year. 

Availability

The original FROG range of carriers is being phased out. As a retired product, we no longer sell new FROG range carriers (except for FROG-6 with Mexican specifications). However, we will continue to support all the units in service until they reach the end of their recommended lifespan (detailed in your product’s User Manual).

The FROG range of carriers included the models FROG-3, FROG-6 and FROG-9.

The official retirement dates for the original FROG carriers are as follows:

• FROG-3 was retired in January 2014. It was directly superseded by FROG-XT4.
• FROG-6 was officially replaced by FROG-XT6. The original model FROG-6 will continue to be supplied and fully supported only for clients with special certification requirements (e.g. to meet the national certification requirements such as in Mexico and Brazil – read on for more information).
• FROG-9 was retired in August 2014 and was directly superseded by FROG-XT10.

We offer lifetime product support for all FROG users. We will continue to support the FROG-3 and FROG-9 users comprehensively until 2024 or until the end of recommended product lifespan (whichever comes sooner). This means that all spare and replacement parts will still be available for this product. However, please note that as time goes by, the lead time to source parts will become longer and the prices may increase due to having to source less in-demand parts. We will continue to offer support, training and advice for all FROG users. 

If you’d like to know more about upgrading to a FROG-XT or for more information, please contact us to speak to a team member.

Certification

Brazilian certification

As per the Brazilian Navy's Directorate of Ports and Coast (DPC) decision, all the FROG-6 carriers currently used in the Brazilian waters or purchased by companies operating in Brazil remain certified for use.

Reflex Marine's FROG-6 carrier was officially homologated by the DPC for use in offshore Brazil in 2014. This followed the Navy witnessing the FROG-6 undergoing immersion, load, vertical and lateral impact tests, amongst other testing criteria, in December 2013. The FROG-6's design and specification were incorporated into several provisions of Annex 4-A when it was originally formulated. Reflex Marine were pleased to see the DPC carrying out pioneering work on personnel safety in the Americas and are proud to be supporting the work of the DPC in that respect. 

In December 2016, the Brazilian Navy's Directorate of Ports and Coast (DPC) altered the Maritime Authority Standards for the Approval of Material (NORMAM-05/DPC). The changes included an alteration of item 0408 (Personnel Transfer Basket) and insertion of Annex 4-A (Rules Governing Personnel Transfer Basket). When Reflex Marine submitted a renewal request further to the NORMAM-05/DPC alteration, the DPC requested that further testing be carried out in order to confirm that the FROG-6 was compliant with all aspects of the new requirements mandated in Annex 4-A. Unfortunately, the renewal certificate was not granted.

The FROG-6's 2016 DPC certificate expired on February 10th, 2019. The design and underlying principles of operation of the FROG-6 have not changed, and the expiry of certification has no impact upon the safety of passengers.

As per the Brazilian Navy's Directorate of Ports and Coast (DPC) decision, all the FROG-6 carriers currently used in the Brazilian waters or purchased by companies operating in Brazil are certified for use, however, no new FROG-6 carriers will be granted a valid certificate.

We will continue to support all of our clients in Brazil with replacement parts, servicing and training for their FROG-6 carriers.

Reflex Marine has an established partner, Sparrows BSM, based in Macae, Brazil, who offer Reflex Marine products as well as inspection, maintenance, replacement parts and training.

Contact our experienced sales team for more information.

Clique aqui para obter informações em português.

Mexican certification

FROG-6 is certified for use in Mexico.

Reflex Marine’s FROG-6 was the first contained, rigid and safe personnel transfer basket on the Mexican market. In August 2014, the Mexican merchant marines officially certified the FROG-6 for use in Mexican waters. In order to achieve this accreditation, the FROG-6 was tested and witnessed by both prospective purchasers and those who have to make crew transfers from vessels onto the offshore rigs. All have preferred the FROG-6 to the collapsible basket alternative, which is nicknamed "La Viuda". 

The tests in 2014 were witnessed by representatives from the Centro de Normalización y Certificación de Productos, A.C. (CNCP), who certified that the FROG-6 conforms with all the established requirements set out by Mexican law. The FROG-6 Certification has since been successfully renewed.

Reflex Marine has an established partner, GINEMEX, based in Cuidad de Carmen, who offer Reflex Marine products as well as inspection, maintenance, replacement parts and training.

Contact our experienced sales team for more information.

Haz clic aquí para información en español.

The FROG story

The original FROG was pioneered nearly 30 years ago and is now a retired model (except for FROG-6 with Mexican specifications). The FROG range of carriers was replaced by the FROG-XT range: revolutionary carriers with the highest level of safety and improved operational capabilities.

Helping offshore workers return home safely has been our driving concern since the start. The concept for the FROG personnel transfer carrier has been developed in direct response to the traditional rope baskets used widely in the 1980s. Philip Strong the innovator behind the FROG carrier – today Reflex Marine’s CEO and Technical Director – came up with the idea for the capsule protecting passengers inside having travelled on a rope basket back in the days.

The FROG was first introduced in 1992 after several years of industry analysis and development. The carefully thought-through design of the carrier ensured passenger protection from the four major risks of transfer: falling, collision, heavy landings and immersion. With cutting-edge safety features offering extensive protection, the FROG raised safety standards above anything else on the market at the time.

The first carrier, the FROG-3, allowed for safe transfer of 3 passengers. In 2007, the FROG-6 was introduced as our response to client feedback and industry demand for higher capacity devices with even greater levels of protection.

Some long-term users of the FROG-3 were early adopters of the FROG-6, as they saw its potential to move people more safely and efficiently. Sakhalin Energy, for example, made the transition, and Andrew Fendt, the Offshore Installation Manager of their Lunskoye-A platform commented:

It may only seem like a small thing – going from three to six seats – but it has surprised me how it has revolutionised our safety-critical daily vessel transfer operations.

Track record

From the tropics to the Arctic, in high seas and extreme weather, the FROG has proven itself through experience. With over 800 units in operation today, our original, reliable range provides a million safe transfers every year.

Find out how our long-term clients have benefitted from using the FROG range of carriers in their operations: see our case studies.

Since launching the FROG, we’ve researched the market, reinvented and refined the design to bring you its worthy successor: the FROG-XT. Built on the same solid foundations, this next generation capsules offers greater comfort and safety, wider operating parameters and higher capacity.

Ongoing support

We offer lifetime product support for FROG customers. If you own a FROG, we’ll continue to offer replacement parts, servicing, training, and operational support for the entire recommended lifespan (detailed in your product’s User Manual). 

If you’d like to request a quotation for parts or have any other questions about your FROG carrier, get in touch with us at info@reflexmarine.com.​

If you’d like to know more about upgrading to a FROG-XT, please contact us to speak to a team member.