Gallery: ‘Flying colors’ for world’s largest crane vessel’s maiden test

World’s largest semi-submersible crane vessel, delivered recently to Heerema Marine Contractors, has completed its sea trials, and with “flying colors” at that, according to the Dutch owner.

Heerema said on Friday that the vessel, the first of its kind powered by LNG, “has successfully completed her sea trials and crane load tests.”

During Sleipnir’s sea trials all major systems performed according to specifications or even better, Heerema Marine Contractors said.

Sleipnir’s speed was tested and when fully deploying all eight thrusters, a speed was reached of 12.2 knots, approximately 22.6 km per hour, significantly reducing Sleipnir’s transit time to projects around the world.

The vessel’s two 10,000-tonne revolving cranes which can lift loads of up to 20,000 tonnes in tandem, were also put to the test, and managed to lift a load heavier than what the spec sheet said they could lift.

“Being the largest crane vessel in the world, Sleipnir can lift huge loads and the tests showed she can easily meet the cranes’ specifications,” HMC boasted.

Operational tests were carried out successfully with loads of 11,000 tonnes per crane (110% of its capacity) and the cranes passed the tests with flying colors.

The Dynamic Positioning system performed even better than the specifications and the system can keep Sleipnir stationary within the footprint of a garden tile of 30 x 30 cm during operational work. Sleipnir will soon start its maiden voyage to southern Spain where it will be prepared for its first installation project in the Mediterranean.

The Sleipnir – named after Norse god Odin’s eight-legged horse – was built by Sembcorp Marine in Singapore. With the 220-meter by 102-meter reinforced deck area, the Sleipnir is the largest vessel of its type ever built.

It can accommodate 400 persons and will be deployed globally for installing and removing jackets, topsides, deep-water foundations, moorings, and other offshore structures.

Heerema Marine Contractors has already won contracts to deploy the SSCV on several offshore projects including the Leviathan topsides installation in the Mediterranean Sea; Tyra jackets and topsides installation and removal in the Danish North Sea; Brae B jackets and topsides removal in the UK North Sea; as well as transportation and installation of the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) Alpha HVAC platform in the North Sea, off the Dutch coast.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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