OFFSHORE (PT 2) Ӏ SECTOR SNAPSHOT
maintenance and fault detection to keep unplanned downtime to a minimum. “Cranes are mission-critical
systems for cable-laying vessels: if they’re not functioning properly, the entire mission could be compromised,” says Fjermeros. A third cable laying vessel,
Prysmian Alessandro Volta, will enter service in 2027 and will carry the same MacGregor cranes package as its predecessors.
NACELLE HOISTS
A lifting function can also be an integral part of wind turbines themselves. In established wind farms maintenance tools and replacement parts need to be hauled up to the nacelles. Hoists therefore need to be installed in those nacelles and, since the nacelles perched on their towers can be a hundred metres or more above the sea, hoists with exceptionally long lift heights are
38 CRANES TODAY
The Prysmian Monna Lisa with McGregor AHC cranes is one of the most advanced vessels of its kind
needed. This is especially true as towers are getting taller with each technical generation. Because of those large lifting
heights, and the need to operate within possibly very narrow weather windows, fast lifting speeds are also essential. The cranes must be marinized, able to endure constant exposure to salt-laden winds, and – since access to offshore towers is difficult and intervals between maintenance visits are as long as possible – they must function reliably after long periods of standing idle. The neXera 800 is the latest
electric hoist from German lashing and lifting specialist RUD. It has variable lifting speeds
of 24 to 80m/min for loads of up to 800kg which the manufacturer says makes it around four times faster at lifting and lowering over a typical service cycle. “RUD neXera is completely new and unique," says Matthias
Müller, technical manager in drive development at RUD. “There has never been such a fast and safe hoist for wind turbines on the market before. “With conventional hoists, lifting the tools and auxiliary materials for maintenance work on wind turbines takes an average of two hours. RUD neXera, on the other hand, takes around half-an- hour. That ultimately saves up to 700 Euros per use." The hoist also scores with
increased safety. It has a built-in incremental encoder that allows the highest and lowest desired hook positions to be set. The sensor records the revolutions of the drive shaft and ensures precise positioning and repeat accuracy. “These are all developments designed to reduce the risk of accidents during wind turbine maintenance,” says Müller. "Classic hoists are designed for a hub height of 160 metres. We developed our innovation
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