Ship capable of lifting the topside structures from offshore platforms

Paul Boughton

Colfax Fluid Handling has been awarded a contract as the exclusive supplier of hydraulic pumps for a ship capable of lifting the topside structures from offshore platforms.

With a lifting capacity of up to 48,000t, the ship will remove topsides in one piece and transport them to land for deconstruction. The screw pumps are valued at 600,000 and are specially designed to deliver the high pumping capacity needed for the project.

The catamaran Pieter Schelte of Allseas Group will lift entire platforms from their undersea supports and transport them onto land for decommissioning. Land-based deconstruction is much safer and more economical than conventional disassembly at sea. This innovation would not be possible without a Topside Lifting System (TLS) on an unprecedented scale. Its capacity of 48,000 t is equivalent to more than 80 fully loaded Airbus A380 jets.

Bosch Rexroth developed a drive and control solution for what will be the world's largest mobile heavy-lifting system for offshore installations.

Nearly 100 Allweiler screw pumps will handle pumping of the hydraulic oil. Pumps of the SNF series pump up to 2300l/min, making them ideal for large volumes required.

For more information, visit www.colfaxcorp.com

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