IQIP’s innovative Combi Lifting Tool, which lifts up to WLL 3000t, is to be used for lifting operations at the Arcadis Ost 1 wind farm. It will be used in combination with three of IQIP’s Combi Lifting Tools 800t for the installation of foundations and the assembly of wind turbines.
Arcadis Ost 1 is a 257 MW offshore wind farm located in the Baltic Sea, where IQIP is supporting the contractor, DEME, and project developer, Parkwind Ost, with the installation of the foundations.
As part of IQIP’s “no hands on deck” philosophy, the Combi Lifting Tool ensures that fewer people are involved in what can be labour-intensive and high-risk offshore crane operations. By enabling automatic couplings and lifts via one connector and corresponding sockets on the tools, the Combi Lifting Tool reduces the number of riggers required on deck and mitigates the risks that are involved with manual connections of crane hook, slings, and installation equipment.
In addition to providing a safer offshore working environment, the use of IQIP’s Combi Lifting Tool also allows monopiles and transition pieces to be placed with fewer crane movements and vertical transits, saving time and reducing wear and tear on cables and sheaves. The Combi Lifting Tool, which is placed directly in the valve block, has delivered a 20% reduction to installation time on previous projects. The more the tool is used for lifting, the more installation time is saved.
IQIP’s Combi Lifting Tool is an innovative addition to the Arcadis Ost 1 project and will help offshore contractors provide safe lifting and crane operations, while increasing efficiency and reducing operational expenses. The wind farm is expected to be fully commissioned in 2023.
