April 7 - BigLift Shipping has transported a wellhead production module from Ulsan, Korea to the Yadana gas field offshore Myanmar for SapuraAcergy.
The module, which weighed just under 1,000 tonnes, was loaded on BigLift's Happy Star at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan using the vessel's two 900-tonne capacity cranes before being shipped to the Yadana field.
BigLift explained that the topside module had to be loaded on deck in the correct position for offloading, which required the module to be lifted from the quayside and raised above the cargo deck, before being rotated into its final position.
The module's centre of gravity and size created challenges in terms of lifting clearances, safe working load and outreach, said BigLift. In the planning stages, 3D simulations showed that when the module was turned to its final position, the minimum clearance between the cargo and Happy Star's crane would only be 700 m.
BigLift added that it was also required to design a grillage and sea fastening system capable of securing the huge load. The heavy lift shipping line undertook a detailed FEM analysis to assess the integrity of the proposed system, as well as identify and improve any weak spots.
The discharge operation was also planned very carefully, said BigLift. Happy Star arrived at the site location offshore Myanmar to meet SapuraAcergy's vessel S3000, which lifted the module directly from the BigLift ship's deck.
Watch a video of the project below:
