Favourite lifting job of the year revealed
13 January 2009
IC reveals the winner and first two runners up in the 2008 International Cranes and Specialized Transport competition to find readers' favourite lifting job of the year
In the latter part of 2008 readers completed and returned their voting forms to help decide the winner of the 2008 TopLift contest. Here, we reveal the victor and the first two runners-up.
It is that time of year again and although the last 12 months seem to have flown by for many of us, the quality and range of lifting projects has, as usual, been extremely good. Likewise, there has been an enthusiastic response from readers to find their favourite lifting job of the year in the IC TopLift 2008 competition.
This year's winner, Sarens Transrig, hit the top spot by a healthy margin with its load out of a 10,700 tonne drilling rig's topside in Norway.
Next, as First Runner Up, was Spain-based Aguado. It helped construct an offshore platform, including three heavy lift turbo-generators.
Close behind was Second Runner Up Meade Crane Services. The Ireland-based crane rental house and lifting contractor lifted the world's biggest Viking ship into an area of the National Museum of Ireland.
If your company completes a lifting project over the next eight to 10 months that you think should be entered for next year's TopLift competition, please send the details to the editor alex.dahm@khl.com or by post to: KHL Group, Southfields, Southview Road, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6TP, United Kingdom.
Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all those who took the time to vote. Your efforts are appreciated. Thanks also to the companies entered in the contest and to the people who supplied information and photographs for the project reports.
WINNER
ENTRY 1 - Tower test
EQUIPMENT USER: Sarens Transrig
LIFTING EQUIPMENT USED: 8 SMLTs
LOCATION: Norway
Sarens Transrig in Norway loaded out the 10,700 tonne topside of the first Aker H.6-e drilling rig, Aker Spitsbergen, in Norway using 448 lines of SPMT. Immediately after the load-out, the barge was positioned in an 8 SMLT (Sarens Modular Lifting Tower) set-up and the module was lifted to a height of about 34 m. The hull was then brought under and the deck was mated with it.
FIRST RUNNER UP
ENTRY 9 - Platform power
EQUIPMENT USER: Aguado
LIFTING EQUIPMENT USED: Manitowoc Models 18000 & 7000
LOCATION: Cabezuela Bay, Cadiz, Spain
Rental company Aguado used a Manitowoc Model 18000 to help construct an offshore platform. It carried out 10 major operations, the largest of which was a 350 tonne lift of three turbo-generators. It was rigged with 61 m main boom, 48 m luffing jib and Max-Er attachment, with 210 tonnes counterweight. It was supported by a Manitowoc 7000.
SECOND RUNNER UP
ENTRY 4 - Stallion power
EQUIPMENT USER: Meade Crane Services
LIFTING EQUIPMENT USED: Grove GMK6300
LOCATION: National Museum of Ireland, Dublin
The world's largest Viking ship, the 13 tonne Sea Stallion from Glendalough, was lifted into the courtyard of the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks in Dublin.
For this Meade chose a Grove GMK6300, with 100 tonnes of counterweight, a 23 m main boom, 45 m luffing jib and a Modulift spreader system.
The replica Viking ship had already been transported from Hanover Quay in Dublin by Sean Meade & Sons and lifted into Collins Barracks using a 200 tonne capacity Terex Demag AC 200-1, before the final lift.
