The new crane for Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s Bold Tern has been fitted onto the jack-up vessel, which now has double the lifting capacity it had before it was equipped with the 1,600-tonne leg encircling crane.
The crane, manufactured by Huisman, was placed aboard the vessel a few days ago through a tandem lift by Asian Hercules II and Asian Hercules III at Keppel FELS yard in Singapore.
Fred. Olsen Windcarrier said the crane was installed as a “single lift” which drastically shortened the commissioning and testing scope onboard the vessel to just a few weeks.
“With the new Huisman crane, the lifting capacity of Bold Tern has doubled in capacity which makes her ready to install all known next generation of turbines” , Fred. Olsen Windcarrier said via social media.
Bold Tern arrived in Singapore in September 2021 to be fitted with the new crane and to undergo additional improvements to the deck space and stability. Fred. Olsen Windcarrier said in September that the vessel would return into service in Spring 2022.
Also according to information from last year, Bold Tern will stay in the APAC region after the upgrade is fully completed to fulfill Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s contract obligations for the 2022 season.
The company initiated crane upgrade programme for its three vessels, Bold Tern, Brave Tern , and Blue Tern , in 2020, with the next in line to boost its lifting capacity being Brave Tern, for whose new 1,600-tonne crane Fred. Olsen Windcarrier placed a firm order with the Huisman at the beginning of this year.
Brave Tern is scheduled to get its new crane in 2024.
The new cranes and sponsons will secure enhanced turbine transport and installation capacity and bring the three vessels on par with announced newbuilds, according to Fred. Olsen Windcarrier.
The vessels will be able to install the 13-15 MW turbines, but also bigger turbines if they come to market, the company said.