Netherlands-headquartered Mammoet has announced a fixed jib configuration for the SK6,000 crane that could allow offshore wind developers to reach deeper waters.
With the launch of the SK6,000, Mammoet’s goal is to provide a next-generation crane needed to install next-generation turbines.
As the industry moves towards 20 MW wind turbines, floating wind components continue to grow in size and weight. This increases the need for a modular approach, to speed up the construction process and allow developers to install more floating turbines in reduced weather windows, Mammoet said.
The jib configuration will give the SK6,000 crane the ability to lift 3,000 tonnes to a height of 220 metres which could help developers cut the cost of assembling floating offshore turbines and increase efficiency by taking advantage of stronger winds for a greater yield.
This new configuration means that the crane can load out floating foundations using its main boom, then immediately use its fixed jib to assemble the turbine tower. No reconfiguration will be necessary between scopes, further improving build efficiency, Mammoet said.
The SK6,000 fixed jib is the latest evolution in a crane series, Mammoet said, that allows small adjustments to have an effect on performance, avoiding the need to research, develop, and fabricate an entirely new crane.
“As with every part of the SK, when we developed the fixed jib, we wanted to include room for growth. With the SK6,000 jib we are employing that additional capacity through small adjustments to the original design”, said Jeremy Haylock , Mammoet technical expert.
“The fixed jib is fully forward and backward compatible through the SK series, meaning our customers can realize its potential, regardless of the application.”
The new jib design will be incorporated into future Mammoet offshore wind project proposals, for deployment to a suitable project at the first possible opportunity.