FG International’s First Single Pole Lifter Installation
FG International Holland BV, the Dutch Special Lifting company, has recently applied a brand new construction called FG Single Pole Lifter.
Willtéco was awarded the high profile job to construct and exchange gearboxes on a jack-up platform in IJmuiden, The Netherlands. While the jack-up does have two sizeable deck cranes, both cranes cannot fully reach the enclosed area where the gearboxes are located.
As an alternative to putting a huge land based crane on the quayside, FG built, supplied and operated a flexible temporary (yellow) lifting construction called SPL50, designed around the specifics of the accessibility problem and the strong points of the platform.
In a combined effort of the jack-up owner, Willtéco and FG the initially planned 5 weeks job was actually completed within less than 3 weeks from the start; safe, smooth and fast.
The FG SPL50 can be applied on every type of jack-up or other construction where a limited footprint and/or insufficient existing crane capacity needs to be remedied.
Several jack-up drilling companies and classification societies have already shown a keen interest in the system as the aging worldwide jack-up fleet recognizes the good condition of the gearboxes in the jacking systems as a crucial factor in the overall personnel and rig safety offshore.
MTV recorded an exciting episode of their “MONEY MAKERS” show, featuring theFG technician in charge of operating the SPL50. On Saturday the 11th of June 2011, 18.15 hours, the show will be broadcasted for the first time, with several re-runs during the following week. In due time you can alternatively find the episode on the following website: www.mtv.nl/shows/
FG is proud to support the Metaal Unie of the Netherlands in this way to promote interesting jobs for youngsters in our vibrant industry.
