SMIT's Taklift 7 called at Thyssen NordSee Werke (TNSW) in Emden, Germany, to perform a series of lifts. The 1,200 tonnes lift capacity sheerlegs was booked to install a 600 tonnes deckhouse and a funnel for a container vessel newbuilding. Taklift 7 arrived in Emden following a mobilisation voyage from Rotterdam. The deckhouse was fabricated at TNSW and delivered to the quay, close to the newbuilding's hull. Taklift 7, using a flyjib and spreader arrangement, then lifted and installed the elements. On completion of the lifts, over a two-day period, Taklift 7 headed for Rotterdam to install a crane on behalf of Nelcon Cranes.The Emden visit formed part of a rolling contract, requiring SMIT to call at the yard at quarterly intervals to assist in the outfitting of newbuildings.
SMIT Transport and Heavy Lift Sales Manager Rik Zwinkels says: "Floating sheerlegs offer high lift capacity and manoeuvrability and, as they work from the water, they cause little or no disruption to normal yard activities, compared to land-based cranes."