Motion compensated knuckle boom crane delivered

Barge Master has delivered its first Barge Master T40 (BM-T40) motion compensated knuckle boom crane

Barge Master. Capelle a/d IJssel, the Netherlands has successfully delivered its first Barge Master T40 (BM-T40) motion compensated knuckle boom crane.

The BM-T40 is installed on the Wagenborg "Walk to Work" Service Operating Vessel (SOV) the Kroonborg, recently delivered by shipbuilder Royal Niestern Sander. The BM-T40 compensates for sea induced vessel motions in roll, pitch and heave directions at the base of the crane, in waves of up to 3 m significant wave height.

The BM-T40 is designed for offshore support vessels that are used to transfer small loads and personnel to (unmanned) offshore oil and gas platforms or wind turbines. The BM-T40 features a small footprint and is designed to compensate for sea induced motions of a knuckle boom crane with a lifting capacity of 15 t at a 10 m radius or 5 t at a 20 m radius up to 35 m height.

Typical loads include hoses, tools, spare parts, maintenance equipment, small wind turbines and solar panels weighing 1.5 t to 5 t.

The BM-T40 is also well suited to use in ballasting or grouting operations.

As well as being suitable for safely lifting loads, the T40 is certified for safe transfer of personnel.

Wagenborg will use the motion compensated crane on the Kroonborg to service and maintain NAM/Shell gas production platforms in the North Sea.

Smaller and more flexible oil and gas platforms introduced over the last forty years no longer have a resident crew nor helicopter pads. This means frequent journeys to and from the platform by ship in order to perform maintenance work.

With the new Wagenborg "Walk to Work" vessel, these operations are executed in a safer, more efficient and effective manner.

The vessel combines multiple functions are combined for the first time. The vessel can accommodate 20 crew members and 40 service technicians, chemicals can be stored and transferred, and thanks to the Barge Master T40 system materials can be transferred safely in wave heights of up to 3 m.

The Barge Master T40 is based on the same principle as the Barge Master T700 motion compensation platform: roll, pitch and heave motions are actively compensated, while surge, sway and yaw are fixated. The motion compensation systems are developed together with Bosch Rexroth.