Swire Blue Ocean’s (SBO) wind farm installation vessel Pacific Osprey has returned to service following the installation of its extended crane boom in Denmark.
Designed to install the latest generation of wind turbines, the boom, manufactured by National Oilwell Varco (NOV), measured 122 m x 15 m x 6 m and weighed 383 tonnes. Blue Water Shipping coordinated its transport from northeast Asia to Esbjerg utilising SAL Heavy Lift’s vessel Wiebke, as HLPFI reported here.
The boom was lifted onto Pacific Osprey on April 14 by NOV using two shore cranes. This was followed by the installation of the wires and hooks. After passing a series of load tests, the final commissioning phase was completed on May 8.
The 2012-built vessel was originally fitted with a 1,200-tonne capacity main crane that can lift wind energy components at a radius of 31 m, with a hook height of 97 m above deck. With the new boom, the crane has the same lifting capacity but will have a hook height of 132 m above deck and a boom length of 115 m. The vessel will be able to lift 700 tonnes at a 50 m radius.
