Heerema’s vessel Thialf installed the new 1,600-tonne Huisman crane onboard Van Oord’s Aeolus today (28 February), making the vessel ready to handle the latest generation of foundations and turbines for offshore wind projects.
The 1,600t crane has been installed by the Thialf while the Aeolus was alongside it in Port of Rotterdam’s Calandkanaal. The Aeolus will now be shifted to Damen Verolme Rotterdam for completion of the upgrade.
The leg encircling crane is built around the portside aft jack-up leg and the boom is stored around the forward leg, saving valuable deck space. The new crane can lift almost twice as much as the Aeolus’ previous crane. The modification of the vessel will also result in increased loading capacity, accommodation capacity and a helicopter deck.
Van Oord said its upgraded Aeolus will be ready for work as from spring 2018.