On the subject of wind generators, the larger they’re, the tougher they work, producing extra renewable offshore wind vitality, and a better return on funding for builders. In consequence, next-gen generators are rising, and their elements are getting bigger and heavier.
Credit score: Mammoet/Jorrit Lousberg
To satisfy the improved set up and upkeep necessities of their elements, the tools used to maneuver, carry and set up them should be upgraded and changed. Mammoet was contracted by GustoMSC to hold out leg crane replacements on two offshore wind farm set up jack-up vessels (Wind Orca and Wind Osprey) for the Danish transport and set up firm Cadeler.
The brand new leg cranes are absolutely electrically pushed and have a 1,600-ton lifting capability, making them prepared to put in and repair next-generation wind generators with capability rankings exceeding 14 MW.
This mission represented a novel one for Mammoet, using not solely one of many greatest cranes in its fleet but additionally its personal yard in Schiedam to carry out the job – the situation permitting a uncommon alternative to schedule tasks concurrently to drastically enhance their effectivity.
For the mission, Mammoet utilized its PTC210-DS crane, considered one of 5 5,000-ton class ring cranes in its fleet and one of many largest cranes on this planet. The colossal dimension and stature of the crane belie its best strengths – its versatility and talent to function in areas the place area is restricted.
Credit score: Mammoet/Jorrit Lousberg
“The PTC210-DS is the proper crane for this job. It has a comparatively small footprint mixed with 360° slewing, with the chance to modify between fastened and luffing jib mode (as solely the PTCs can) ensuing within the largest doable working space,” mentioned Dirk Knoester, Senior Adviser at Mammoet. “PTC cranes can be assembled in quite a few configurations and thus a tailored configuration is possible for any job: completely different mainboom and jib lengths, fastened or luffing jib, completely different quantities of counterweight and two ring diameters.”
These attributes made it a really perfect crane for this mission, the place jack-up vessels have been to be positioned on both aspect of Mammoet’s quay — which has a peninsula configuration. Flexibility was wanted to permit two vessels to be labored on collectively.
The choice to have the PTC210-DS constructed in Mammoet’s personal yard was pushed by security and optimizing the schedule for the consumer by with the ability to refit each vessels directly.
Credit score: Mammoet/Jorrit Lousberg
“Our yard has a novel location within the port of Rotterdam, and this gave us the chance to place the crane between the 2 vessels and serve them on the identical time,” mentioned Remco Zandstra, Senior Industrial Supervisor at Mammoet. “Not solely does this save appreciable time, by minimizing actions of cranes within the yard and vessels alongside the jetty, it additionally creates the most secure doable resolution to carry out this mission.”
With Wind Orca and Wind Osprey moored on reverse sides of the jetty, the PTC210-DS could possibly be positioned within the middle, slotted between each vessels. Security assessments have been carried out in the beginning of the mission. This was important as surveys discovered that the dock itself consisted of two L-shaped concrete constructions with softer floor within the center. A soil survey was performed on the proposed location of ring crane and, utilizing this knowledge, calculation fashions have been created to foretell the settlement of the soil underneath its weight. To confirm these fashions, load exams have been carried out at each areas the place the ring crossed areas and not using a dock flooring.
The brand new leg cranes comprised 4 foremost sections to be put in: the pedestal, the rotating platform, the A-Body and the 149m mainboom. To reinforce stability and management in the course of the mainboom lifts, an LR1800-1.0 crawler crane was used as an help crane. Working collectively, the PTC210-DS lifted one finish of the increase because the crawler crane lifted the opposite.
Performing this operation on a busy quay was a problem that required efficient area administration. Mammoet’s Schiedam location serves many energetic tasks in Belgium and the Netherlands each day. The location needed to function a brief laydown space for all elements being added to the Wind Orca and Wind Osprey, together with the massive booms.
Lifting peak proved one other take a look at for the engineers. At completely different phases of the operation, the vessels needed to be raised to a peak of 73 meters above the jetty utilizing their jacking legs. Jacking up the vessels to this peak was essential to preserve the rigging quick, for the reason that new cranes are of the leg encircling sort. This meant that the bottom of those cranes needed to be lifted over the leg. Thus, jacking up the vessels minimized the chance of collisions between the jack-up leg and sections of the PTC210-DS crane throughout lifts.
As crew couldn’t embark and disembark the ships as soon as they have been elevated, further security issues have been taken to make sure that solely licensed personnel – to function the jacks and lift the vessels – have been allowed aboard.
Work on Wind Orca and Wind Osprey will proceed this yr, with completion anticipated later in 2024.
Information merchandise from Mammoet
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