Tailor-Made, Precise Rigging Plan Required To Secure Oversized Cargo
Jumbo Shipping has called into action its Fairmaster heavy-lift vessel to transport a set of oversized offshore platform components, including a 1,293-tonne living quarters module, from Marystown, Canada to Ingleside, Texas.
The Netherlands-based heavy-lift shipper, now part of the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance, carried out the tailor-made move for client Kiewit Offshore Services. Kiewit had insisted the cargo, which also included a helideck and flare boom, was shipped fully-assembled and in a single voyage.
To complete the move, Jumbo drew up a detailed logistics plan covering engineering, risk assessment, approvals and project management. A 3D simulation model was used to convince the client the components would fit securely onboard the heavy-lift vessel.
“We were able to offer the most cost-efficient solution which was engineered and tailor-made just for this cargo. Specific studies were made for the deck strength and the tight lifting operations,” said Maarten De Gruyter, project manager at Jumbo.
Each component required a custom and precise rigging plan, Jumbo said.
The 145-tonne flare boom and other smaller units were stowed first below deck in the hold.
Once hatches were closed, two 1,500-tonne capacity cranes lifted the helideck onto the Fairmaster’s forward deck, then the 144-person living quarters module, measuring 53 x 24 x 18 metres, was manoeuvred between the pedestals of each crane.
Some 160 tonnes of rigging material including lifting beams, grommets and shackles were used in each crane to load the living quarters module.
“The lifting of these modules in between the ship’s two cranes safely was a difficult engineering challenge,” said Mark Tetteroo-Pat, lead engineer at Jumbo. “But we know our vessels inside out and always manage to find the smartest solutions for these tight squeezes.”
Jumbo-SAL-Alliance was launched in April 2021.
The venture controls 30 project cargo vessels with lifting capacities of up to 3,000 tonnes, making it the largest fleet in the 800-plus tonne lifting sector. The fleet includes three DP2 vessels, two range-extending fly-jibs and eleven ice-class vessels.
Jumbo-SAL-Alliance will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2022 on 17-19 May in Rotterdam.
