Source: BreakBulk
German lifting specialist Hansa Heavy Lift transported a BioPower Systems, or BPS, pilot unit and retrieval rig from Vũng Tàu in Vietnam, to Portland, Australia.
The cargo weighed 698 tonnes and was lifted onboard Hansa’s HHL Freemantle using the ship’s inbuilt cranes. These provide a combined lifting capacity of 1,400 tonnes.
The BPS units measure 26 meters long and will be used to convert wave power into electricity as part of a planned wave energy plant. Upon arrival at Portland the units were discharged directly into the water using the vessel cranes. The HHL Freemantle then traveled Port Fairy to carry out further installation work for the plant.
“The positioning of the ship was crucial to ensure accurate heading alignment. The unit had to be lowered through the splash zone at an angle of 15 degrees in order to reduce dynamic effects from the waves before lowering it to the seabed,” said Ian Broad, Hansa director of cargo management.
The firm said it ensured a rigorous process of pollution control was carried out on all equipment, including shackles, grommets, crane hooks/blocks, and heave-compensators to prevent environmental damage.