FOHO (Foot Operated Hatch Opener) at Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm Project

Following extensive demonstrations and testing of our new FOHO solution, we worked closely with Ørsted to further refine the system—advancing its design to enhance worker safety within the Hornsea 3 turbines. This collaborative approach allowed us to tailor the FOHO’s performance to real-world operational demands while maintaining the robustness required for offshore environments.

Part of the customisation involved developing an alternative fixing method, enabling fast and secure installation with minimal disruption to the turbine’s internal layout. Combined with the FOHO’s low-maintenance mechanism, this solution ensures long-term reliability without adding operational burden for technicians.

Crafted from high-grade corrosion-resistant aluminium and stainless steel, the FOHO system is tested beyond 10,000 cycles, ensuring dependable performance throughout the turbine’s operational life.

By enabling operators to open the hatch without using hands, the FOHO significantly reduces risk during vertical movement—offering safer access than traditional pulley-and-weight systems. Its self-closing feature eliminates uncontrolled slamming, further improving safety.

Supplying FOHO hatches to a major project like Hornsea 3 reinforces Gatemaster Offshore’s role as an innovative, safety-first partner in the offshore wind industry. This collaboration demonstrates our ability to bring purpose-built, high-performance hardware to large-scale renewable projects, helping to set new standards for vertical access safety.