Smit Lamnalco Aids Transfer of Largest HVDC Platform

Posted by Eric Haun July 21, 2014

Smit Lamnalco tugs provide vital support for world’s largest HVDC platform transfer and float-over

Five vessels of Smit Lamnalco, the global marine service provider, played the key role in the unberthing and float-over of the world's largest high voltage direct current (HVDC) platform, DolWin beta, at Drydocks World - Dubai. The five escort tugs, with more than a combined 450 metric tons bollard pull power, provided marine support not only during the unberthing process but also in the 24-mile tow offshore and its float over on to the heavy transport vessel, Dockwise owned and operated, Mighty Servant 1.

The 29,000-metric-tons semi-submersible heavy transport vessel, owned by Boskalis subsidiary Dockwise, is capable of transporting some of the world's largest offshore structures which include the bigger semi-submersible drilling units and deep water jack-up rigs. In this operation, she was deployed to ship the massive DolWin beta structure to Haugesund in Norway, where the platform will be commissioned prior to deployment in the German North Sea. With a capacity of more than 900 MW, the platform will host power conversion equipment for three offshore wind farms.

"With Boskalis owning 50% of Smit Lamnalco, our group has once again demonstrated and delivered an integrated marine service capability across the widest of clients in the oil and gas industry," said Ian Hugo, the company's Regional Managing Director Middle East & Indian Subcontinent. "Our tugs and crews delivered the vital role in the safe and efficient unberthing and transfer of the DolWin beta, whilst the Mighty Servant 1 waited offshore before the float on and transit to Europe."

The 15,000-metric-tons DolWin beta, is larger than a football field, is 100 meters long, 70 meters wide and stands over 90 meters tall. The processing power delivered by DolWin beta will be sufficient to light up a city the size of Frankfurt. The DolWin beta platform was built for TenneT by Dubai Drydocks World and was an EPC subcontract between Aibel AS and Drydocks World. The platform has been developed jointly by Aibel and ABB.

smitlamnalco.com