Smit Transport & Heavy Lift plans to explore new markets in the Mediterranean region this year. Its immediate attention is focused on Spain and other countries in the western Mediterranean, building on its recent contract success for heavy lifts required for bridge building in Tarragona and Barcelona.
This month sees Asian Hercules II, the latest addition to Smit’s floating sheerlegs fleet, commence work on its first project in Europe – in Spain – following relocation from Asia.
Asian Hercules II is the largest sheerlegs in the fleet, with a lift capacity of 3,200t. The vessel will call at Barcelona on the final leg of its relocation from Singapore. The new bridge is in Barcelona port. The task is to lift into place a pair of 2,100t bascule spans for client UTE Puento APB consortium.
This is the second heavy lift project for this consortium within the space of a few months. In September, the 1,200t lift capacity sheerlegs Taklift 7 called at Tarragona to position two approach spans and two box girder bascules for a new road bridge in the port. The approach spans and bascules weighed 450t and 700t respectively. The heavy items were picked up from the fabrication quay and transported 500m to the bridge line.
The civil construction market is important to Smit, as a diverse work programme offers opportunities during periods of fluctuating demand in the offshore fabrication sector. Smit plans to build on its success in Spain by opening a marketing office in Madrid later this year.
The Tarragona lifts demonstrated the benefits of using a floating crane – it completed all main preparations for the heavy lifts during the mobilisation voyage. On arrival, the sheerlegs lifted into place the two approach spans in the space of a morning, followed by the lift of the first bascule in the afternoon. The remaining bascule, with counterweight and concrete deck, was installed the following day.
Smit’s forward work programme includes a major assignment on the other side of the Atlantic for Asian Hercules II. A two-week series of heavy lifts (18 big lifts in all) will take place at Bull Arm, Newfoundland, for the Terra Nova floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The vessel is being constructed at Daewoo, Korea. Bull Arm is responsible for outfitting the FPSO, which will be the first of its kind deployed in Canadian waters.
Also in the offshore sector, sheerlegs Taklift 4 will call at Aker Stord, Norway, in May to lift modules for the Snorre B semi-submersible production vessel. The heaviest lift involves the 1,040t lower section of Snorre B’s ram rig. A second visit is planned, to install a series of heavy modules.
Beyond the offshore and civil construction sectors, Smit’s sheerlegs have developed a niche market in the European shipbuilding industry, lifting large modular sections. Smit has obtained extensions to existing framework agreements for regular heavy lift assistance for German shipyards at Flensburg (FSG Shipbuilders) and Emden (TNSW).
Smit sheerlegs will call at Flensburg every quarter this year, to lift 750t deckhouses for a series of four roll-on/roll-off vessels. Sheerlegs are also booked for three visits to Emden to lift 560t deckhouses for three ships under construction. Taklift 4 will undertake the majority of the shipyard lifts this year. During this month, Taklift 4 is also booked to lift and transport the 1,300t main beam of the redundant giant gantry crane at Bremer Vulkan shipyard, a site earmarked for industrial development. The main beam is being lowered by a special jacking system. Taklift 4 is required to pick up the beam and transport it in the hooks along the River Weser to a quayside storage area.