New offshore knuckle boom crane from Huisman

Specialist in lifting and subsea solutions, Huisman, has launched a new rope luffing knuckle boom crane.

The active heave compensated (AHC) crane is a combination of luffing crane and a traditional knuckle boom crane, a spokesperson said. The crane has a main hoist system, a patented anti-twist device, and an electric drive system. The cranes are available in capacity ranges from 400 up to 1,200 tonnes and up to 5,000 metre water depth, a spokesperson added.

“By incorporating a knuckle in the design of the crane it is possible to reduce the pendulum of the hook and, if extended, it can allow for high lifting heights,” the manufacturer said. “The main hoisting system comprises a traction and storage winch system and a separate heave compensation system. This means both lifting and lowering and heave compensation can occur simultaneously with no performance interdependency, resulting in a better overall system performance and increased safety. A failure in main hoisting system will not affect the heave compensator or the other way around.”

The crane is electrically driven and it can be fitted with a single or double fall reeve system. It also has an anti-twist device to prevent twisting of the lower block and wire rope during subsea lifts in double fall configuration.

The first model, a 900 tonne rope luffing knuckle boom crane, has been ordered for Subsea 7’s Seven Arctic and is scheduled for delivery in 2016.