Liebherr to deliver offshore crane to Caspian Sea

Lukoil’s Caspian Sea Operations has ordered a Liebherr ram luffing offshore crane to begin operation at the end of 2016 in the Russian part of the Caspian Sea. The explosion-proofed RL 1500-30 has a load capacity of 30 tonnes and a 360 degree slewing range paired with a hydraulic ram luffing cylinder.

Liebherr and Lukoil maintain close co-operation despite international oil industry insecurities and increased currency volatility, the company said.

At the end of 2015, Liebherr-Russland and Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft signed a new contract for the delivery of a Liebherr RL 1500-30 EX Litronic offshore crane, which is to start operation on a satellite platform at the Ju. Korchagin oil and gascondensate field in the Russian part of the Caspian Sea by the end of 2016.

The crane offers a maximum outreach of 36 metres from the rotation axis of the slewing platform. The company explains that the RL 1500 is an optimal solution for maintenance of open deck equipment on drilling and satellite platforms as well as for unloading supply vessels.

Manufactured at the specialised Liebherr plant in Rostock, Germany, the RL 1500-30 is designed as an explosion proof version for operation at temperatures from -30 to +40.6 °С and wind speeds of up to 25 m/second.