Crane Upgrade for Jack-up Vessel Sea Installer
Major modification work will bring A2SEA-owned vessel into line with growing demands of offshore wind industry
Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm), part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, is currently undertaking a modification and maintenance project on the jack-up vessel Sea Installer. In what is a multidisciplinary project, the yard’s primary focus will be to upgrade the vessel’s main crane. With its increased lifting capacity, the 132-meter A2SEA-owned vessel, which is used chiefly for offshore wind farm installation purposes, will be able to take on a broader scope of work as offshore wind activities involve heavier and larger components.
Arriving at DSAm on April 10, the Sea Installer took her position alongside lay-by berth number 1. The smooth running of this project is facilitated by the prefabrication of key components at nearby Niron Staal Amsterdam, also part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion.
Niron Staal fabricated and supplied the new boom rest, hook block pockets, trolley rail and support stools. With these parts ready from the outset, DSAm was able to commence the project at maximum capacity.
The Sea Installer project also involves some notable lifting procedures: DSAm has created a temporary lifting and storage area alongside the vessel’s berth to accomplish these safely and effectively. “We need to remove a total of 569 tonnes from the vessel and lift a further 702 tonnes back on board again,” explained Damen Project Manager Daniel Gerner.
The yard will use an LR1600-2 Mammoet crane to perform the lifts. Consequently, the preparations also included calculating the numerous lifting plans. In line with the yard’s high offshore quality lifting procedures, these were compiled in close collaboration with Mammoet.
With the vessel’s Boom, Boom rest, A-frame, winch and hook block pockets already removed from the vessel, operations are now in full swing. Ready for lengthening, the boom has been positioned on a support structure consisting of 15 stacked shipping containers. A2SEA is providing the new A-frame and winch. In terms of capacity, the crane will be upgraded from a single mode 800-tonne crane to a double mode long and short 900-tonne crane (long 700 tonnes and short 900 tonnes).
DSAm is also paying close attention to the state of the Sea Installer ‘s jacking equipment. “We have divers currently in the water to inspect the spud cans – and we are also replacing one of the jacking cylinders.”
“We are looking at finishing this considerable project within a two-month timeframe,” Gerner said. “The strong winds that we had here during the first couple of weeks have set us back a bit, but we are still on course for timely completion. If necessary, we can ramp up our work schedule by moving to 24/7 operations.”