The 50-m-long, 22-m-wide and nearly 1,000-ton Kurt crane was loaded with help of two powerful cranes in tandem to MV Beluga Stavanger. On September 5th, the working-platform of the Tiefbau GmbH Unterweser (TAGU) started its biggest voyage ever to Odessa, Beluga Shipping GmbH press release said.
“Even for the extremely powerful two cranes of the multipurpose heavy lift project carrier MV „Beluga Stavanger", which helped Kurt into the air, this was not at all a snap. It was one of the most interesting capability-tests to date for the on board loading gear of the new P-class ships of the Bremen based shipping company Beluga Shipping. Although both onboard cranes - each of them made for lifting 700 tons – as a tandem can lift without any problems even 1,400 tons, this lift was extreme: Due to Kurt´s dimensions the cranes were working almost to their furthest outreach and leverage effect during this load was huge,” the press release said.
With the load's mentioned length, width and a height of three meters it was to thank the virtuosity of the two crane-drivers, the exact calculations of the transport engineers of Beluga Shipping and the very good eye of Igor Savin, the 37 years old captain of the "Beluga Stavanger" that the colossus was lifted precisely on board. For this operation the load had to be turned in a wide movement across to the two crane-frames. Therefore during that entire time the beam of one crane had to be extended for about 26 meters but still continued holding half of the entire weight of the platform. The leverage effect being in force during these minutes was extreme.
Beforehand the shipping-company´s own engineering experts had calculated any of the excessive movements and forces of this operation. Step by step they had exercised with simulations on the computer. Now theory was converted into praxis: Slowly and precisely the operators passed Kurt like a gigantic flying tray through the space between their crane frames. Four hours after first take off Kurt finally was standing longitudinal on board. Cranes and crew had showed their entire ability. The strapping of the travelling platform could start.
“Just under 1,000 tons single weight – even for us, the leading company in the segment of project- and heavy cargo shipments, this was not a common lift”, resumes Tambek Jakson, a satisfied Cargo Superintendent of Beluga Shipping. Throughout the entire lift he was consultatively standing on the captain´s side. Already ahead of the loading several preparations had to be done: “As the platform is not made for being loaded“, said Jakson, "our engineers designed special fittings which had to be attached to the platform first."
In Odessa the Kurt shall help to enlarge a quay wall. Therefore underneath his compact body several thousand tons of steel were traveling with him on the “Beluga Stavanger” to Ukraine. During the five days of embarkation in Brake besides the special equipment hundreds of steel-profiles made by ThyssenKrupp were stowed. The crew loaded the over 30-m-long profiles in four layers under deck into the cargo hold. Once the crew had closed the hull Kurt came aboard.
With its special and heavy load the MV “Beluga Stavanger” left Brake at high tide on Sept. 5th. On Sept. 16th the vessel punctually berthed in Odessa. After the trip of 4,000 sea miles the onboard cranes of the heavy-lift freighter set down the platform in front of the Ukrainian port-city directly into the Black Sea. Utilizing the ships cranes for support, Kurt´s superstructure was remounted.
“Even for the extremely powerful two cranes of the multipurpose heavy lift project carrier MV „Beluga Stavanger", which helped Kurt into the air, this was not at all a snap. It was one of the most interesting capability-tests to date for the on board loading gear of the new P-class ships of the Bremen based shipping company Beluga Shipping. Although both onboard cranes - each of them made for lifting 700 tons – as a tandem can lift without any problems even 1,400 tons, this lift was extreme: Due to Kurt´s dimensions the cranes were working almost to their furthest outreach and leverage effect during this load was huge,” the press release said.
With the load's mentioned length, width and a height of three meters it was to thank the virtuosity of the two crane-drivers, the exact calculations of the transport engineers of Beluga Shipping and the very good eye of Igor Savin, the 37 years old captain of the "Beluga Stavanger" that the colossus was lifted precisely on board. For this operation the load had to be turned in a wide movement across to the two crane-frames. Therefore during that entire time the beam of one crane had to be extended for about 26 meters but still continued holding half of the entire weight of the platform. The leverage effect being in force during these minutes was extreme.
Beforehand the shipping-company´s own engineering experts had calculated any of the excessive movements and forces of this operation. Step by step they had exercised with simulations on the computer. Now theory was converted into praxis: Slowly and precisely the operators passed Kurt like a gigantic flying tray through the space between their crane frames. Four hours after first take off Kurt finally was standing longitudinal on board. Cranes and crew had showed their entire ability. The strapping of the travelling platform could start.
“Just under 1,000 tons single weight – even for us, the leading company in the segment of project- and heavy cargo shipments, this was not a common lift”, resumes Tambek Jakson, a satisfied Cargo Superintendent of Beluga Shipping. Throughout the entire lift he was consultatively standing on the captain´s side. Already ahead of the loading several preparations had to be done: “As the platform is not made for being loaded“, said Jakson, "our engineers designed special fittings which had to be attached to the platform first."
In Odessa the Kurt shall help to enlarge a quay wall. Therefore underneath his compact body several thousand tons of steel were traveling with him on the “Beluga Stavanger” to Ukraine. During the five days of embarkation in Brake besides the special equipment hundreds of steel-profiles made by ThyssenKrupp were stowed. The crew loaded the over 30-m-long profiles in four layers under deck into the cargo hold. Once the crew had closed the hull Kurt came aboard.
With its special and heavy load the MV “Beluga Stavanger” left Brake at high tide on Sept. 5th. On Sept. 16th the vessel punctually berthed in Odessa. After the trip of 4,000 sea miles the onboard cranes of the heavy-lift freighter set down the platform in front of the Ukrainian port-city directly into the Black Sea. Utilizing the ships cranes for support, Kurt´s superstructure was remounted.