VOS Champagne performed its first lifting operations offshore Ravenna at the Barbara-F platform after installing a new marine-certified telescopic mobile crane
The new crane was used to load cargo on deck in the port of Ravenna and subsequently discharge it on to the platform.
The crane’s retrofit on the 2015-built DP2 anchor-handling tug supply vessel was planned by VOS Offshore Services (VOS), manager of VOS Champagne, and Eni Group earlier this year. Supporting Eni Group’s installations in the Adriatic Sea since 2018, VOS Champagne provides a wide range of services, including supply, towing duties and passenger transfer.
Discussions earlier this year centred around the feasibility of installing a mobile/shore crane on the 65-m AHTS vessel’s main deck, which would enhance VOS Champagne’s contributions to Eni’s logistic-effectiveness offshore Ravenna, Italy. The main challenge of the project was safely securing the crane on deck and fulfilling the required operational capabilities, while maintaining full compliance with class instructions and stability limitations. This challenge was undertaken by VOS Genoa Ship Management Department, with the team assuming full responsibility for co-ordinating the work scope that included engineering, procurement, construction and installation. During the engineering and construction phases, VOS paid particular attention to the sea and weather conditions to guarantee the safest possible utilisation of the crane in all eventualities.
After detailed drawings had been approved by class society RINA, work began 26 June 2020, after VOS Champagne arrived in Ravenna’s Rosetti Marino Shipyard. Preparatory work at the shipyard included steel cutting, welding new pad eyes, installing the 12-tonne crane foundations and painting.
Once the main support structures and foundations were secured on deck, VOS Champagne transferred to Eni’s base on 7 July. Here, the delicate operation of loading the Baldini telescopic mobile crane Grove GMK 5220 was co-ordinated by Eni’s shore staff in close collaboration with the vessel’s crew.
Once loaded on to the main deck, the crane was positioned on four stabilisers, spreading its weight on top of the four foundations. Each of these foundations was bolted to the newly installed H-beam structures to support the horizontal forces. All four crane stabilisers were lashed directly on to six pad-eyes (24 in total) using certified turnbuckles, each weighing 27 tonnes.
After the installation process was completed, all equipment was tested and certified by RINA. The vessel’s stability booklet was amended to incorporate the new equipment and a final and approved International Labour Organisation Crane Booklet, which lists the crane’s working loads at different radii, was handed over to the crew.
“This project demonstrates once again our competence and expertise in delivering integrated services across the offshore industry,” VOS said in a press statement. “At VOS, we pride ourselves on our ability to collaborate with clients to identify and develop the best, most efficient, cost-effective and safest solutions to satisfy specific operational requirements.”
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