Elsewhere, we have referred to shore cranes, operated by the local port authority, used to assist with the loading/discharge of vessels. In large part, most ports are well equipped for marine cargo operations, sometimes supplemented with floating cranes.
When Heavy Lift Vessels are needed
However, for some of the largest project cargo pieces, it may be impractical to deliver to one of the major ports, necessitating smaller, local harbours without the necessary equipment or lifting capacity.
This is where a heavy lift vessel provides the solution – a specialised marine vessel, designed to move and lift extremely large or high-tonnage cargo, supporting more complex offshore operations, through the use of onboard cranes or semi-submersible deck systems.
STG’s experience with Heavy Lift Vessels:
With decades of hands-on experience in worldwide heavy lift transportation, STG has delivered complex marine load movements across a broad range of projects. A few examples illustrate the practical challenges involved.
We can well remember in the early days a consignment from the UK to Ghana. Initial routeing was by road/ferry to Rotterdam, where the cargo (the largest piece about 95 tons) was transferred to a waiting vessel. On arrival at Accra, ship’s derricks were brought into play, it being on the limit of their capacity. To the consternation of everyone, as the piece swung over the ship’s side, it started to list badly – thankfully, the piece landed on the quay/trailer before the ship capsized.
On a more recent shipment, for delivery into the Conoco Refinery at Milford Haven, it was discovered that the quay was unable to support the combined load of a mobile crane, trailer and cargo. This led to the use of a heavy lift vessel solution, eliminating the weight of the crane. By deploying a state-of-the-art heavy lift vessel, the operation was completed safely and efficiently. However, quay length and available draft then became key factors, directly influencing vessel selection.
