The International Marine Contractors Association’s 12th Lifting and Rigging Seminar held in Amsterdam in October attracted over 120 from Europe, South Africa, and North and South America. It focused on the technical and operational challenges posed by increasingly heavier lifts in the offshore wind sector and provided the lifting sector with a new mantra – ‘Adopt, Adapt and Improve’.
The mantra’s history and detailed information on the seminar content is now available to all. It includes concise summaries of all sessions and presentations along with relevant graphs, charts and, most importantly, some of the findings that emerged. The report was sent automatically to all who attended. – now its important findings are available to all in the lifting and rigging and offshore wind sectors to enable them to fully grasp the challenges – and opportunities.
As Conference Chair, and Chair of IMCA’s Lifting and Rigging Management Committee (LRMC), Laura Lombardi, Managing Director of Usha Martin Italia explained: “The challenges created in the renewable energy market are stretching the vessels’ and equipment capabilities with components that are continuously getting bigger and more complex.” The conference report spells out the size of these challenges – Siemens Gamesa spoke of 19,747 lifts in 2022 (for 223 turbines) with 110,000 lifts expected by 2030 (for 1,500 turbines).
“It was certainly a thought provoking event,” said Mark Ford, IMCA’s Marine & Quality Manager. “Seaway 7 emphasised the size and weight of the near-future XXL monopiles, soon requiring a 2,500-3,000+ tonne lift of a roughly 125-m-long object with a 10-11-m diameter, lifting at heights in excess of 120m. Another challenge is complacency due to the repetitive nature of offshore lifts.”
He added: “Equipment fatigue is another challenge.. In the oil and gas sector, for which many of the crane vessels were designed, a 3,500-tonne lift would not be done every day; but in the offshore wind sector it is not unusual to do it twice in a single day.”
The report is available from www.imca-int.com/output-from-
Looking ahead
Planning is under way for the 2023 Lifting and Rigging Seminar with its theme ‘Lift Planning in the New Offshore Environment: Tools; Training; Technology’. It will be held in Amsterdam on 26 October 2023. IMCA Member rate is £150 and the Non-Member rate is £300. Franklin Offshore, the Crosby Group and Brunton Shaw have already committed to repeating their sponsorship roles – other opportunities are available. Further information on all aspects of the seminar are available from events@imca-int.com or at IMCA Lifting & Rigging Seminar 2023 – IMCA (imca-int.com)
