Jumbo multi-lift in Antwerp

Jumbo Shipping used the onboard cranes of its 1,800 tonne lifting capacity crane vessel Fairplayer for a series of lifts at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, including a 1,200 tonne vacuum tower.

Fairplayer lifted the giant 50 m long, 17 m diameter tower from its supports, including three self propelled modular transporters (SPMT), all of which were secured to a barge moored between Fairplayer and the quayside.

Before the lift, which took place on 13 May, all non-essential staff were asked to leave the Fairplayer to provide a safer working environment for the crane operators and heavy lift crew, explained Jumbo. It took about 1.5 hours to lift the tower and its saddles onto the weather deck, where they were seafastened.

Among the rest of the cargo were two 625 tonne coke drums, both 42 m long and 10 m diameter. The Fairplayer then set sail for Port Arthur, Texas, US, where the cargo will be offloaded for the Shell Motiva Project.