Smit Transport Europe has taken delivery of a new barge, E3505, to be used by offshore crane vessel operators such as Heerema and Saipem, to test cranes like Thialf, Balder, Hermod and the Saipem S 7000.
The test barge was designed by Smit Engineering and measures 66m x 23m x 4m, making it suitable for heavy RoRo transport projects as well as the biggest test lifts in the world.
To accommodate client’s requirements, lifting trunnions have been incorporated below deck level in place of pad eyes. Smit said that this would facilitate connecting/ releasing client’s slings. When fully ballasted, the total test weight of the E3505 is 5500t.
Smit also operates a wide range of other test barges used by other crane operators such as the land based crane industry.
The first test for E3505 is scheduled for early February 2003 with the Saipem S 7000 in the port of Rotterdam.
