Page 51: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2021)

“We managed to not only develop this extreme heavy-lift machine, but we did it at a competitive price. I think that is an achievement by working to- gether with OHT, the shipyard and our team.”

Edwin van Leeuwen, Managing Director,

Ulstein Design & Solutions BV not do everything in sequence. You need and it’s myriad of challenges, van Leeu- a bit bigger, but we’ll do this trying to to also get rid of the people who are ex- wen said, “We managed to not only de- keep the vessel as identical as possible posed on the main deck doing manual velop this extreme heavy-lift machine, to Alfa Lift 1.” operations,” said Ramstad. but we did it at a competitive price. I “We have made certain modi? cations,

In the ? nal concept they placed a think that is an achievement, again, by essentially in relation to an even longer crane upfront on the vessel to free up the working together with OHT, with the crane boom,” said Ramstad. “This isn’t space on the main deck, and created a shipyard, and our team.” because of heavier foundations; we are mechanized deck transportation system well-covered with what we have on Alfa to bring the foundation components up Alfa Lift II Lift 1 in that respect. But, if the founda- front towards the crane. Since the crane While the original Alfa Lift is not yet tions grow higher or longer, for instance, did not need to cover the entire main delivered, thoughts have already turned we see jackets standing on the vessel’s deck, it offers a shorter, more robust to Alfa Lift 2, which is currently in basic deck soon becoming the limiting factor, crane boom … and ultimately a cheaper design. “From the early design phases of in terms of crane height or hook height.” crane, too. Alfa Lift, we have seen that the founda- So the team is looking at a bigger crane “With this deck transportation system, tions are growing and that the turbines with a longer crane boom.

we can then feed the crane in the upend- are growing. It is logical that we are re- “So, probably going from 3,000 tons ing position, bringing them from the viewing the capacities of the vessel, and to 5,000 tons,” said Ramstad. And with horizontal to the vertical in an ef? cient Torgeir hinted to it as well.,” said van a bigger crane comes a slightly longer way,” said Ramstad. “And while install- Leeuwen. “She will be adopted for big- ship to ensure stability during sailing ing one monopile, we prepare for the ger monopiles and bigger jacket founda- and install. “For most people it would next. And then, of course, in between tions. In order to do that, she will prob- look identical. It’s not that big a differ- two monopiles, you do have transi- ably have a bigger crane and she will be ence.” tion piece, and we decided to carry the transition pieces on the forecastle back.

That’s normally where you have a big hotel section on the vessel.”

MAG DRILLS & ANNULAR CUTTERS

With the main deck being prime real

From small lightweight low profile mag drills to large estate for ef? cient foundation handling, multi-speed models and a wide range of annular the decision was taken to place the hotel cutters, Hougen has the power, performance & portion of the ship underneath, allowing solutions for your holemaking needs.needs.

for much freedom in the placing of oth- er valuable bits of equipment including the 900-ton piling hammer. “The piling hammer is a big beast,” said Ramstad, and that sits on the forecastle deck along with the transition pieces. 8004267818SERVICE 800-426-7818 SERVICE • INTEGRITY • RELIABILITY HOUGEN.COM

When looking at the project as a whole www.marinelink.com 51

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