Cranemaster ensures safe and efficient installation of offshore wind farms

Installing an offshore wind farm is a highly complex job and there are many challenges to tackle. One pressing concern is pile runs, which can occur while turbine foundations, or piles, are hammered into the seabed. Layered soil can lead to the sudden free fall of piles, which in turn puts an enormous strain on cranes, a phenomenon known as a shock load.

In addition, because offshore wind turbines are often installed in harsh conditions, the weather window for operations such as lift-off from feeder barges is often narrow, making the use of traditional cranes less efficient and more costly.

Integrated into a single unit and mounted between the hook and the load, Cranemaster® shock absorbers and passive heave compensators protect the crane, the lifted object and personnel during lifting operations.

The unit comes in different sizes, with a load range of 0.5 to 1 600 metric tons and a stroke range of 0.5 to 5 metres. Several units can be connected in parallel for increased load or in series for increased stroke.

Standard units can be equipped with additional features, including the Cranemaster® Adaptive Control system, where the settings for the various phases of lifting operations - lift-off, splash zone crossing, lowering and subsea landing - can be adjusted either manually or automatically.

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Cranemaster® technology has been painstakingly engineered and thoroughly tested in real-world conditions. Its shock absorbers and heave compensators are safe, reliable, easy to use and certified in accordance with strict DNV standards.

They can also significantly extend the weather window for offshore lifting operations, reducing installation time and costs for offshore wind farms. This in turn can reduce operating time for offshore installation vessels and associated carbon emissions, while lowering the risk of damage to costly equipment.

Read more: Cranemaster solution for WTG feeder

According to the Global Wind Energy Council, more than 90 GW of offshore wind is expected to be added worldwide in 2022–2026, with estimated annual offshore installation at 18.1 GW. The energy crisis and climate crisis may, however, speed up growth even more.

With its proven technology and expertise from 50 offshore wind projects and counting, Cranemaster is ready to supply this challenging and important market.

“Floating offshore wind as a form of renewable energy is a fantastic development. We believe we are contributing to a better world,” says Baak.

Established in 1983, Cranemaster has more than 40 years of experience in offshore heavy lifting. The company supplies products and services for decommissioning, salvage, and offshore oil and gas applications, in addition to offshore wind.