Offshore staff
HELSINKI, Finland – MacGregor has launched a new crane compensation system for offshore ship-to-ship load transfers, said to offer larger operating windows as well as safer and faster load transfers.
Ivar Fjermeros, senior sales manager, Advanced Offshore Solutions said that with the systems currently available, a crane’s capacity is effectively de-rated because of the conservative approach required to minimize risks associated with the relative movements of the vessels.
The new compensation system employs a motion reference unit on the deck of the secondary vessel, which transmits motion data to the crane on the primary vessel via a high-speed redundant wireless link. Combining motion data from both vessels, the system calculates and applies the winch compensation necessary to minimize hook movement at the load-handling zone on the secondary vessel, MacGregor said.
The system is said to feature precise tension and position control for accurate load hook-on, pick-up landing, and hook-off. Safety can be improved for the deck crew working in the load-handling zone. It allows the operator to employ a less conservative approach to calculating the maximum load that can be handled in a given sea state.
MacGregor offshore cranes can be retro-fitted with the new system. It can also be used with the company’s other crane advances.
02/23/2017
