General information
The largest cranes in the world operate on offshore crane vessels. The current record is the lift of 11,800 t for the Shearwater project in 2001. Monohull crane vessel have the advantage of a higher transit speed, but the maximum lifting capacity is achieved on semi-submersible crane vessels, such as the Thialf (Heerema Marine Contactors) and S7000 (Saipem).
The largest cranes in the world operate on offshore crane vessels. The current record is the lift of 11,800 t for the Shearwater project in 2001. Monohull crane vessel have the advantage of a higher transit speed, but the maximum lifting capacity is achieved on semi-submersible crane vessels, such as the Thialf (Heerema Marine Contactors) and S7000 (Saipem).
Services & Activities
The Offshore Department is mainly involved in the use of offshore crane vessels in installation and decommisioning projects. With the dedicated LIFSIM program it is able to assist the engineering and operation of these projects. Complex models and instrumentation are used to test these operations.
The Trials & Monitoring Department has been present at a lot of installation projects to monitor the motions and loads during the operations.
The Offshore Department is mainly involved in the use of offshore crane vessels in installation and decommisioning projects. With the dedicated LIFSIM program it is able to assist the engineering and operation of these projects. Complex models and instrumentation are used to test these operations.
The Trials & Monitoring Department has been present at a lot of installation projects to monitor the motions and loads during the operations.
Facilities & Tools
Crane vessels are tested in the following MARIN facilities :
Crane vessels are tested in the following MARIN facilities :
- Offshore Basin: DP model tests in combined current, waves and wind
- Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin: model tests in waves
- Deep Water Towing Tank: towing tests
The behaviour of FPSOs is simulated with the following tools :
DIFFRAC: 3-D potential theory including wave diffraction
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
LIFSIM/LIFMOT: Analysis of multi body dyamics and lift operations
DPCAP: Analysis of thruster capacity in dynamic positioning
DPSIM: Low frequency motion simulation of moored and DP vessels
DPSEMI: Dynamic positioning simulation for semi-submersibles
SEMISUB: Motions of semi-submersibles
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
LIFSIM/LIFMOT: Analysis of multi body dyamics and lift operations
DPCAP: Analysis of thruster capacity in dynamic positioning
DPSIM: Low frequency motion simulation of moored and DP vessels
DPSEMI: Dynamic positioning simulation for semi-submersibles
SEMISUB: Motions of semi-submersibles
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience record
The list below gives a review of crane vessel model tests carried out at MARIN :
The list below gives a review of crane vessel model tests carried out at MARIN :
- Installation of additional modules on the Njord FPU with the S7000 (Saipem/Norsk Hydro, 2006)
- Decommissioning of the Brent flare tower with the S7000 (Saipem, 2006)
- Installation of additional modules on the Visund FPU with the Thialf (Heerema/Statoil, 2004)
Most recent papers on crane vessels presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Model Testing and Complex Numerical Simulations for Offshore Installation
J.L. Cozijn; R.J. van der Wal (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands MARIN); C. Dunlop (Saipem UK), ISOPE Conference, Vancouver, 2008
Model Tests and Computer Simulations for Njord FPU Gas Module Installation
Remmelt van der Wal, Hans Cozijn (MARIN) and Chris Dunlop (Saipem UK), Marine Operations Specialty Symposium (MOSS), Singapore, 2008
A dynamic model for lifting heavy modules between two floating offshore structures
R.R.T. van Dijk (MARIN), A. Hendriks (Heerema Marine Contractors) and L. Friisk (Statoil), EuroDyn Conference, Paris, 2005
Monitoring Offshore Lift Dynamics
Rene Wouts and Ton Coppens (HeereMac) and H.J.J. Van den Boom (MARIN), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1992
Computer Analysis of Heavy Lift Operations
H.J.J. van den Boom, J.N. Dekker, and R.P. Dallinga (MARIN), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1988
J.L. Cozijn; R.J. van der Wal (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands MARIN); C. Dunlop (Saipem UK), ISOPE Conference, Vancouver, 2008
Model Tests and Computer Simulations for Njord FPU Gas Module Installation
Remmelt van der Wal, Hans Cozijn (MARIN) and Chris Dunlop (Saipem UK), Marine Operations Specialty Symposium (MOSS), Singapore, 2008
A dynamic model for lifting heavy modules between two floating offshore structures
R.R.T. van Dijk (MARIN), A. Hendriks (Heerema Marine Contractors) and L. Friisk (Statoil), EuroDyn Conference, Paris, 2005
Monitoring Offshore Lift Dynamics
Rene Wouts and Ton Coppens (HeereMac) and H.J.J. Van den Boom (MARIN), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1992
Computer Analysis of Heavy Lift Operations
H.J.J. van den Boom, J.N. Dekker, and R.P. Dallinga (MARIN), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1988
Most recent crane vessel articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
Pioneering purpose-built wind turbine installation vessels under test
For large offshore wind farms significant time and therefore, cost can be reduced by using a purpose-built installation vessel. MARIN carried out a series of tests on BELUGA HOCHTIEF Offshore’s installation vessel design....
BigLift Shipping and MARIN in joint aNySIMpro operations
In the past few years BigLift Shipping has been operating in shielded waters to replace thrusters on DP vessels and semi-submersibles. In a joint aNySIMpro study we are now investigating the limiting sea states for these...
Frigg QP jacket gets 'on the move' at MARIN
Saipem UK wished to enhance its knowledge of the behaviour of its SSCV “S7000” for a removal and transportation solution for both the lifting and towing of the Frigg QP Jacket structure. Saipem asked MARIN to perform tests...
Njord Gas Export project
Imagine one of the largest crane vessels in the world –Saipem’s S7000 – lifting and installing two gas modules onto a large floating production unit (FPU) offshore Norway, all at model scale...
Combined Model Tests and Simulations in the Lift
Installing new topside modules on an existing Floating Production Unit (FPU) in deep water can be a challenging task. The crane vessel and semi submersible move independently and lowering a relatively light module on a moving...
For large offshore wind farms significant time and therefore, cost can be reduced by using a purpose-built installation vessel. MARIN carried out a series of tests on BELUGA HOCHTIEF Offshore’s installation vessel design....
BigLift Shipping and MARIN in joint aNySIMpro operations
In the past few years BigLift Shipping has been operating in shielded waters to replace thrusters on DP vessels and semi-submersibles. In a joint aNySIMpro study we are now investigating the limiting sea states for these...
Frigg QP jacket gets 'on the move' at MARIN
Saipem UK wished to enhance its knowledge of the behaviour of its SSCV “S7000” for a removal and transportation solution for both the lifting and towing of the Frigg QP Jacket structure. Saipem asked MARIN to perform tests...
Njord Gas Export project
Imagine one of the largest crane vessels in the world –Saipem’s S7000 – lifting and installing two gas modules onto a large floating production unit (FPU) offshore Norway, all at model scale...
Combined Model Tests and Simulations in the Lift
Installing new topside modules on an existing Floating Production Unit (FPU) in deep water can be a challenging task. The crane vessel and semi submersible move independently and lowering a relatively light module on a moving...
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with crane vessels, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
For full scale measurements: Trials and Monitoring Department
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with crane vessels, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
For full scale measurements: Trials and Monitoring Department