ALE heavylift crane lifts a staggering 2,884.4 metric tonnes in Texas
ALE has performed one of North America’s heaviest crane lifts using a land based heavylift crane, lifting the 3179.5 US t (2,884.4 metric tonnes) MRU module, for an oil and gas project in Texas, USA.
The unrivalled 354,000te/m load moment and long outreach of the world’s largest capacity land based crane, the AL.SK350, enabled the global heavylifting specialists to lift the second of three modules on top of the offshore topside.
The three modules, weighing a combined total up to 6,614t (7,290 US t with block and tackle included), are being lifted using ALE’s unique AL.SK350 crane for the project in Ingleside. As the crane can lift from one position, this is the ideal solution for working in the congested site and significant time is saved by not needing to relocate the crane for every lift, as would have been the case with other ring cranes.
The AL.SK350 has been rigged with a 124m (406ft) main boom, and 49m (160ft) ballast radius, along with a heavy winch system and 4,000t (4,409 US t) ballast.
The second lift, involving the MRU module, took place in January and weighed a combined total of 2,884.4t (3179.5 US t with block and tackle included). For this, the installation outreach ranged from 31.4m to 29.9m (103ft to 98ft).
“The second successful lift proves the tried-and-tested capabilities of the AL.SK350 crane and its unique ability to lift this weight at such a long outreach within a congested site. The team and myself are very proud to be involved in such a landmark project and be the first to achieve such a heavy lift using this type of crane in the USA,” explained Ronnie Adams – Senior Project Manager.
In order to avoid delays to the overall offshore topside, these lifts will act as a trial to ensure they fit and the topside is pre-commissioned when installed with a new heavylift vessel off the coast of Israel.
The final of the three modules is expected to be lifted in February, with the removal of the three modules in the second quarter of 2019.
