SPMT in 7,500 tonne deck move by ALE(KHL)

Written by Alex Dahm - 06 Sep 2010

ALE used 320 lines of SPMT to move and load out a 7,500 tonne deck for the Buzzard field

ALE in the UK completed the site move and load out of an offshore petrochemical industry deck weighing 7,500 tonnes.

The production sweetening (PS) deck and bridge were part of the Buzzard Field Development Project in Hartlepool. The 7,500 tonne deck was 60 metres by 36 metres by 42 metres. A 500 tonne bridge, 80 metres long, connected the new deck to the existing Buzzard structure.

For the site move 320 lines of self propelled modular transporter (SPMT) were assembled in a separate area adjacent to the site. After the axles were inserted, the module was circled through 90 degrees for the main construction skid beams to be removed. The module was then driven forward about 1 kilometre to the load out site on the quay.

A conflict between the build stool location and the barge grillage location meant that the SPMT had to be inserted and removed to ensure correct positioning on the quayside. As the module was driven onto the barge it was ballasted before being positioned prior to sea fastening for transport.

Installation in the Buzzard field offshore was 35 miles from Peterhead in Scotland. It was the second unit ALE has loaded out for the Buzzard field. First was the QU deck with a total load out weight of 11,300 tonnes in 2006.

News link: http://www.khl.com/magazines/international-cranes-and-specialized-transport/detail/item58104/

ALE plans demo of 4,300t capacity crane in September

Abnormal Load Engineering is planning to demonstrate the first crane it has ever made, the 4,300t (4,740 US ton) capacity SK 90 at a customer event in Breda, Netherlands in September.

The crane will have a maximum boom length of 148m (486ft) main boom and 48m (157ft) backmast. It can lift rated capacity using four strand jacks mounted at the boom tip, a similar arrangement to Mammoet's MSG 80 crane, which has a maximum capacity of 3,070t. It can lift 600t with a winch with 10 parts of line.

Like other very heavy cranes, it slews by turning around a large modular ring that is set up outside its lower structure. But unlike some other ring cranes, it can operate with only a section of a complete ring assembled.

The crane raises maximum load with 4,000t of counterweight. Its maximum load-moment is 96,000tm. A 120,000tm model is also planned.


The crane is intended for large petrochemical jobs, ALE director Roger Harries explained to Cranes Today.

"We have found uses in the Middle East for large construction projects, where the large load moment capability has an advantage over the current ring designs as it does not sterilize the foundation area of the construction plot. It has changed a lot of the thinking concerning construction techniques of new plants."

He added: "There are many other application where the capacity of the crane allows engineers to build more efficient process plant."

As of mid-August, the prototype was still being assembled. Testing begins at the end of the month.

FM: http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=135&storycode=2050531&c=1