October 5 - Heavy transport and installation specialist ALE has completed the load-out of a 22,400-tonne jacket for the Mariner Project in Cadiz, Spain.
The barge S44 was mobilised to complete the project. The barge was first grounded, which required the installation of an external ballast system. The jacket was then skidded on board using four pulling units, two of which had a 900-tonne capacity and a pair of 500-tonne capacity units. The jacket was moved a distance of 197 m.
The ballast system comprised of submersible pumps that were installed over the side of the barge, alongside vertical tubes to remove or add ballast water without interfering with the pulling manoeuvre.
ALE completed the load out over the course of six hours, pulling at an average speed of 16 m per hour.
