30.06.2016

Damen upgrades windfarm crane

Damen Ship repair Amsterdam has upgraded the Sea Installer offshore wind farm lifting vessel.

After removing and replacing all crane related equipment from the ship including the boom, boom rest, A-frame, winch and hook block pockets, Damen installed a new A-frame and lengthened the boom by inserting a new extension of high tensile S690 steel. Niron Staal, supplied a new boom rest, hook block pockets, trolley rail and support stools. The upgraded crane can handle up to 700 tonnes in with the extended boom, alternatively it can handle 900 tonnes with the extension removed.
Please register to see all images

The upgraded crane can handle up to 900 tonnes with the extension removed

Installing the larger crane on the Sea Installer had numerous implications on existing on board structures. The boom rest had to be replaced, which in turn necessitated additional modifications to the accommodation area. In order to house the main hook and auxiliary hook in both long and short mode, the existing auxiliary hook block pocket was replaced with a new construction that comprised one main and two auxiliary hook block pockets.

The bigger crane also needed a bigger winch, so a 900 tonne capacity, winch was installed, which also required changes to the electrical, hydraulic and cooling systems.