IN FOCUS / UNIVERSAL CRANES The two CO2 vessels weighed 125t each on the plan and were 34m long with a diameter of 4.5m
DUAL PRESSURE VESSEL LIFT, NO PROBLEM FOR UNIVERSAL In early October the Universal Cranes Brisbane team installed two CO2 vessels for Air Liquide at Incitec Pivot on Gibson Island. Universal Cranes deployed its Grove GMK 7450 and Demag AC350 – 6 for the dual lift. THE TWO CO2 VESSELS WEIGHED 125T each on the plan and were 34m long with a diameter of 4.5m. Each crane was set up to lift 77.8t with rigging and this allowed for the 20 percent dual lift factor. Robbie Glyde, Sales and Cranes Supervisor for Universal Cranes explains more. “Obviously, there was a high degree of planning conducted by all parties involved including Air Liquide, ILP, with Rex Andrews Transport R&N Contractors carrying out pre-lift works and implementing the transport arrangements. Universal Cranes conducted numerous site visits and preliminary lift plans before the final crane selection and lift plans were drawn up,” he said. “The configurations of the cranes meant the Grove GMK7450 had 25.7m of main boom with 120t of counterweight. The capacity on this crane was 86t and 84 / CAL November 2021
it was lifting at 90.6% of its charts with 77.9t at a radius 15m. “The Demag AC350 – 6 had 27.2m of main boom with 116.7t of counterweight. The total load was 77.5t. The capacity of this crane was 81t and it was lifting at 11m which meant it was running at 95.7% of its charts,” said Glyde. “Universal Cranes provided all our own rigging for the project. Generally speaking, we provide all our own rigging for projects. With these lifts we were using a S273 model Modulift spreader bars set at 6.5m which meant the slings didn’t come into contact with the vessels. “We were able to conduct the lifts with the outrigger pads we normally send out with the cranes, although some ground preparation was required so we could set up the pads properly for the Grove GMK7450,” he said. The project was completed over
four days. On day one, both cranes were mobilised to site and due to site constraints, the cranes were mobilised into position one at a time. Day two saw the first vessel lifted into place and following completion of this lift, the cranes were moved into to another position, ready for the second lift. Day three was a ‘lay day’ for the Universal Cranes team. “Because the vessels were so large, they could only be transported, under escort, during the early hours of the morning. Day three enabled the transport company to load the second vessel in preparation for delivery to site early on day four. “Day four was for the second lift. We lifted the second vessel into place and both cranes were then demobilised from site. As a result of the detailed and careful planning, the lifts went really smoothly and the client was very happy to see the vessels safely in position,” said Glyde. www.cranesandlifting.com.au
