Safe and efficient offshore wind installations
Technology proven through nearly 1000 offshore lifting projects, installing monopiles, jacket foundations, templates and transition pieces to name a few. Cranemaster ensures safe and efficient offshore wind installations.
Typical applications where Cranemaster can contribute
- Pile runs or pile drops – protection of crane and rigging against snap loads during piling.
- Lift-off from barges (feeding). Cranemaster reduces DAF and therefore increases the operational weather window.
- Splash zone crossing of large objects (monopile templates, mono buckets, jacket foundations with suction buckets). Cranemaster reduces DAF and the probability of slack slings.
- Installation of transition pieces on monopiles from floating vessels. Cranemaster increases ship stability and prevents rapid heeling.
- Subsea landing and subsea re-positioning or recovery of heavy objects.
Protection of crane and rigging during pile hammering
Reducing risk in piling operations
Sudden free fall of the piles during pile hammering due to layering in the soil, so called pile runs or pile drops, is an increasing concern in the industry. The snap loads following pile runs can be very high, exposing both personnel and equipment to high risk.
In cooperation with key players in the industry, Cranemaster has developed special shock absorbers that will reduce the snap loads to acceptable levels. As a result, risk is reduced, and expensive interruptions in the piling process avoided.
Pile run with and without Cranemaster
This simulation shows a pile hammer, 300 ton weight in air. The hammer falls a distance of 0,8 meter and is then stopped by the crane wire.
With Cranemaster:
• Snap load = 513T
• Ringing eliminated
Without Cranemaster:
• Snap load = 964T
• Significant ringing effect in crane and pile hammer
Examples of pile runs
Safe deployment through the splash zone
By utilizing Cranemaster, dynamic forces and probability of slack slings will be reduced when lowering large objects through the splash zone (e.g. monopile templates, mono buckets, jacket foundations with suction buckets).
The image above is from an installation of large met masts in the North Sea. The structures had a height of 45 meters and weights of 300-400 ton. Cranemaster performed calculations and lift simulations in close cooperation with the customer. Due to the large suction bucket, the splash zone crossing was a challenge with respect to dynamic forces and stability. Utilizing Cranemaster, these challenges were overcome, and the structures were successfully installed.
Learn more about splash zone crossing
Increased ship stability during installation from floating vessels
Installation from floating vessels can be challenging (e.g. installation of transition pieces on monopiles). With a Cranemaster® unit equipped with Lock & Release functionality, vessel heeling is controlled, and snap loads are eliminated.
Learn more about Lock & Release functionality
Reduced downtime when offloading from barges (feeding)
Efficient and safe lift-off operations of offshore wind components from barges or feeder vessels. By adding a Cranemaster unit to the jack-up crane, the heave challenge is solved as the unit will compensate for the wave induced motions from the barge. Enables operation in harsher weather conditions.
Cranemaster for subsea operations
Smooth seabed landings and re-positioning or recovery of heavy objects.
Learn more about Subsea Landing
Learn more about Subsea Retrieval
Engineering services
The Cranemaster engineering department offers a wide variety of services, from weather window calculations and heavy lift analysis to tailor made systems and designs. In close cooperation with the customer, we will give you a clear view of movements, velocities and forces in crane, load and rigging for all critical phases of the operation.
Learn more about our Engineering Services