Spliethoff takes delivery of KenzFigee pipe handling cranes

Ocean transport fleet operator Spliethoff has taken delivery of two pipe handling gantry cranes tailor-made by Dutch company KenzFigee for its two new build multipurpose DP2 B-type vessels ‘Brouwersgracht’ and ‘Bloemgracht’.

The two removable and automated pipe handling gantry cranes are, in close collaboration with Spliethoff, specially developed and designed by KenzFigee to enable a fast, safe and efficient loading and discharging operation of pipes both on- and offshore.

The pipe handling gantry cranes are designed to move pipes from a pipe handling platform to a position in the cargo hold and vice versa.  Each crane has a SWL capacity of 135 tonnes. The length of the crane is adjustable for handling single or double joint pipe lengths and able to handle multiple pipe dimensions.

These electric driven gantry cranes contain various unique features on a number of specific areas of operation, including: a specially designed anti-sway and semi-automatic movement system enabling the crane to operate unmanned in the cargo hold to further enhance safety and production especially during offshore operations; redundant power supply to improve reliability and availability and a special integrated interface with the hatch cover system to create more loading capacity.

“These specially designed and innovative automated pipe handling cranes presented many engineering challenges in the design and production phase. I’m therefore proud that our expert team has managed to meet Spliethoff's operational needs and requirements. We wish Spliethoff and the crew of both vessels successful and safe operations,” says Maikel Takken, CEO of KenzFigee.