Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam undertakes project on the jack-up vessel Sea Installer
Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm), part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, is currently undertaking a major modification and maintenance project on the jack-up vessel Sea Installer. In what is a multidisciplinary project, the yard’s primary focus will be to upgrade the vessel’s main crane. With its increased lifting capacity, the 132-metre A2SEA-owned vessel, which is used chiefly for offshore wind farm installation purposes, will be able to take on a broader scope of work as offshore wind activities involve heavier and larger components.
Arriving at DSAm on 10 April, the Sea Installer took her position alongside lay-by berth number 1. The smooth running of this project is facilitated by the prefabrication of key components at nearby Niron Staal Amsterdam, also part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion.
Niron Staal fabricated and supplied the new boom rest, hook block pockets, trolley rail and support stools. With these parts ready from the outset, DSAm was able to commence the project at maximum capacity.
The Sea Installer project also involves some notable lifting procedures: DSAm has created a temporary lifting and storage area alongside the vessel’s berth to accomplish these safely and effectively. “We need to remove a total of 569 tonnes from the vessel and lift a further 702 tonnes back on board again,” explains Damen Project Manager Daniel Gerner.
The yard will use an LR1600-2 Mammoet crane to perform the lifts. Consequently, the preparations also included calculating the numerous lifting plans. In line with the yard’s high offshore quality lifting procedures, these were compiled in close collaboration with Mammoet.
With the vessel’s Boom, Boom rest, A-frame, winch and hook block pockets already removed from the vessel, operations are now in full swing. Ready for lengthening, the boom has been positioned on a support structure consisting of 15 stacked shipping containers. A2SEA is providing the new A-frame and winch. In terms of capacity, the crane will be upgraded from a single mode 800-tonne crane to a double mode long and short 900-tonne crane (long 700 tonnes and short 900 tonnes).
