Heavy lifting solutions provider Ale has used its heavy-duty jib with the AL.SK350 crane, while performing its inaugural lift, weighing 1 276 t, of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) module integration project in Nigeria.

The world’s largest capacity land-based crane, the AL.SK350, has been rigged in its current biggest configuration with a 124 m A-frame main boom, 49 m ballast radius and the 38 m jib for additional outreach, along with a heavy winch system and 4 000 t ballast for the project in Lagos.

For this project, Ale has been contracted to lift and install six modules from the yard into final position on the FPSO. The lift weights are between 335 t and 3 000 t.

The new modular jib, built in 2016, uses an unique design with a strut top that can be assembled in different configurations, it can lift up to 3 400 t and be configured up to 100 m long.

“Following successful test lifts up to 3 403 t, using the jib configured with a 100 m outreach, we were happy with the results and rigged the crane with a mast over 162 m long and the strut to a length of 35 m,” explains Ale senior design engineer Jan Oomen.

Ale project manager Ronnie Adams says as part of its continued commitment to innovation and foresight of increasing crane capacity, the company developed its exitsing crane concept and fitted the heavy-duty jib and strut assembly.

“This jib’s unique design is like no other in the market and is the first time we have used this design, along with the crane’s largest configuration, representing a major milestone for Ale.”

Adams notes that the jib’s design uses guylines going from the strut top to the narrow jibhead to provide side support, which also boosts the lifting capacity of the overall crane and extends outreach. As the yard has restricted space, the AL.SK350 is the ideal solution as it can be strategically positioned to lift from one location and reduce the overall project costs and schedule. Following the successful first lift, Ale looks forward to continuing the lifting operations.