Yantai Raffles Shipyard Limited ("YRS"), the largest builder of semi-submersible drilling rigs in the PRC, has reached a new milestone with the christening of the world's first fixed dual-beam gantry crane, with an enormous lifting capacity at 20,000 MT. The new state-of-the-art facility at the Yantai shipyard is named 'Taisun', after a famous sacred mountain in the PRC's Shandong Province reflecting its size, strength and inspirational qualities.The Christening ceremony was held on April 18 and was well attended by over 600 guests from all over the world. The event commenced with a ribbon cutting session by distinguished guests. Following the opening address by Mr Brian Chang, Chairman of YRS, 'Taisun' demonstrated to all attendees its astounding strength by hoisting up a launching barge 30 meters above the water. Independent party American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) witnessed the lift and presented Mr Chang with a "Witness Load Testing" certificate, confirming the capacity of 'Taisun' at 20,133 MT; a heavy lift world record.
'Taisun' now entering into commercial service, has been earmarked for at least nine lifts over the next 24 months. It will revolutionize the way large offshore projects such as semi-submersibles and FPSOs are built. By providing a perfectly safe, uniquely controllable and highly cost effective way to join super sections of up to 20,000 MT, the hours spent working at great heights will be significantly reduced. As a result, overall project man-hours can be improved upon by up to 2 million, overall build schedules and time-to-market shortened, and safety and quality greatly improved.
In a press statement made by Mr Haldor Fottland, Area Manager of Awilco Offshore, it said, "Awilco Offshore Semi AS congratulates YRS on the christening of the 20,000 MT crane. The introduction of this crane certainly opens up for more efficient project execution. We are glad to see the 'Taisun' crane operating, and we look forward to experience it in full action with the mating lift for our first semi-submersible rig."
