SSCV Thialf
Encyclopedia
SSCV Thialf is a semi-submersible crane vessel operated by Heerema Marine Contractors
Heerema Marine Contractors
Heerema Marine Contractors is a contractor most notable for operation of three of the largest crane vessels in the offshore industry.-History:...
, the largest crane vessel
Crane vessel
A crane vessel, crane ship or floating crane is a ship with a crane specialized in lifting heavy loads. The largest crane vessels are used for offshore construction. Conventional monohulls are used, but the largest crane vessels are often catamaran or semi-submersible types as they have increased...
in the world.
History
SSCV Thialf was constructed in 1985 as DB-102 for McDermottMcDermott
McDermott is a surname, and may refer to:* Alice McDermott, writer* Alister McDermott, cricketer* Andy McDermott, author* Bill McDermott, executive* Brian McDermott, rugby coach* Brian McDermott, football manager of Reading...
by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Mitsui
is one of the largest corporate conglomerates in Japan and one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world.-History:Founded by Mitsui Takatoshi , who was the fourth son of a shopkeeper in Matsusaka, in what is now today's Mie prefecture...
In 1997, it was taken over by Heerema Marine Contractors
Heerema Marine Contractors
Heerema Marine Contractors is a contractor most notable for operation of three of the largest crane vessels in the offshore industry.-History:...
after discontinuation of their joint venture with McDermott, HeereMac.
Layout
Thialf has two cranes with a combined maximum lifting capacity of 14,200 metric tons, making it the largest crane vesselCrane vessel
A crane vessel, crane ship or floating crane is a ship with a crane specialized in lifting heavy loads. The largest crane vessels are used for offshore construction. Conventional monohulls are used, but the largest crane vessels are often catamaran or semi-submersible types as they have increased...
in the world. It is equipped with a class III dynamic positioning
Dynamic positioning
Dynamic positioning is a computer controlled system to automatically maintain a vessel's position and heading by using its own propellers and thrusters...
system. Propulsion and position keeping is by six 5,500 kW retractable azimuthing thrusters. For shallow waters there are 12 Flipper Delta anchors, 22.5 t, with 2,500 meter, 80 mm mooring wire.
The hull consists of two pontoons with four columns each. Transit draught is about 12 meters. For lifting operations it will normally be ballasted down to 26.6 m (87.3 ft). This way the pontoons (with a draught of 13.6 meters) are well submerged to reduce the effect of waves and swell.
It is able to accommodate 736 people.
Lightship weight is 72,484 t
Noteworthy projects
- Installing the pylon of the Erasmus Bridge in 1995.
- Decommissioning of the Brent SparBrent SparBrent Spar or Brent E, was a North Sea oil storage and tanker loading buoy in the Brent oilfield, operated by Shell UK. With the completion of a pipeline connection to the oil terminal at Sullom Voe in Shetland, the storage facility had continued in use but was considered to be of no further value...
in 1998. - In 2000 it set a world record of 11,883 t by lifting Shell'sRoyal Dutch ShellRoyal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Shearwater topsides, beaten by Saipem 7000 in 2004 with the Sabratha deck lifting of 12,150 t. - In 2004 it installed the topsides on BP'sBPBP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
Holstein, the world's largest sparSPAR (platform)A spar, named for logs used as buoys in shipping and moored in place vertically, is a type of floating oil platform typically used in very deep waters. Spar production platforms have been developed as an alternative to conventional platforms...
. The lift was a record for the Gulf of Mexico: 7,810 t. The actual record for Gulf of Mexico is now retained by the Saipem 7000 with the 9,521 t of PEMEX PB-KU-A2 deck installed in March 2007. - In 2005 it installed the heaviest single piece foundation piles: 2.74 meters diameter x 190 meters long, weighing 818 t each for ChevronTexaco'sChevron CorporationChevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
Benguela Belize compliant towerCompliant TowerA compliant tower is a fixed rig structure normally used for the offshore production of oil or gas. The rig consists of narrow, flexible towers and a piled foundation supporting a conventional deck for drilling and production operations...
.