World’s first wind-powered gas platform loaded

One of the biggest challenges of the project was the loadout phase. Normally, for loadouts of this type, a barge would receive either a topside or a jacket, not both together. For this project both structures needed to be loaded out onto the same vessel, to shorten the overall schedule.

Mammoet project manager Sven Segeren said this created space and engineering challenges, as the team had to also allow room to install pumps and winches onto the transport vessel. The combined loads also meant conventional mooring methods could not be applied.

“The mooring was quite critical, and we had to do a lot of engineering,” said Mr Segeren. “Normally, we would use a configuration of winches to moor and stabilise the vessel, but that was not possible because of the force of the considerable loads.

“The loads on the winches were too high and the bollards not strong enough, so a small spud leg barge was used to secure the vessel and keep it in position prior to, during and after loadout.”

It took five days to prepare the main barge – to install the ballast equipment, perform the preballasting, and check the sailing conditions to the final location.  

The loadout operation of the jacket foundation and topside was completed in just two days.

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