– Van Oord’s Svanen heavy lift installation vessel grew 25m taller in just one night
– A 1200t A-framed gantry extension was installed on top of the vessel, increasing its total height to 125m
– The upgrade also includes improvements to lifting hooks, gripper, and vessel structure to handle larger wind farm technology for offshore projects.
Van Oord’s heavy lift installation vessel, Svanen, recently underwent a major upgrade, adding a huge A-framed gantry extension that increased the total height of the vessel to 125 m. This upgrade makes the Svanen one of the largest heavy-lift vessels in the world. The extension, weighing 1200 t, was constructed by Holland Shipyard and installed using one of the largest cranes in the world at Mammoet Schiedam.
In addition to the gantry extension, the upgrade includes modernization of lifting hooks, improved grippers, and modifications to accommodate the latest hammer size. These enhancements will increase the lifting capacity of the vessel from 3000 to 4500 t. The upgraded Svanen is expected to be ready for operation in the third quarter of 2024 to handle the next generation of monopile foundations for offshore wind projects.
Both Marco Hoogendoorn, Commercial Director at Holland Shipyards, and Maarten Loman, Project Manager for Svanen modification at Van Oord, expressed pride in their roles in contributing to the future of renewable energy and offshore wind projects. The upgrade reflects the rapid progress in wind farm technology driven by the increasing size of turbines. For more updates on the global renewable industry, readers can find the latest issue of Energy Global magazine online.