Saipem 7000 crane vessel back in action

On 14 April 2022, the main block wire on one of the vessel’s cranes, Crane n.1, broke during a lifting test. The vessel had completed dynamic positioning trials and began to undertake a five-year main cranes load test, under the supervision of class society DNV. The test involved lifting barges.

The semi-submersible crane vessel is the third-largest vessel of its kind and arrived at the Seagreen windfarm field north of Edinburgh, 31 May.

Following the incident, Saipem reported Saipem 7000 “went through a first step of necessary repair works” and that Crane n.2 obtained the related certifications, allowing it to operate with a lifting capacity in line with Seagreen project technical requirements and scope of work.

At the end of 2021, Saipem 7000 completed installation of the 5,100-tonne jacket for the Seagreen offshore windfarm in Scotland. The vessel’s scope of work for the windfarm included installing 114 foundation jackets; 23 of which have been already installed, while the remaining 91 will be installed from now until year-end 2022.

Crane n.1 is expected to complete repair works to allow the vessel to return to its full lifting capacity by early 2023.