World’s strongest mobile crane in Leviathan lift

The world’s largest boom telescopic mobile crane, a Liebherr LTM11200-9.1, was used for moving parts in the fabrication of a self-propelled rig known as a ‘Seajack’ at Port Rashid, Dubai, through the first week of August. Specialist ‘builder’ Lamprell needed to lift and place the top two segments on the rig – fittingly named Leviathan.

The four legs, each totalling a height of 86.46m, incorporate eight segments. For the 7th and 8th segments, each weighing 52t, the crane was positioned alongside the Seajack to provide a 26m radius and capitalise on the cranes telescopic boom – capable of reaching up to 100m – to ensure fast lifts and speedier erection times for each of the legs.

The Al Faris Rental crane was configured with 202t counterweights and an 88.30m boom length with superlift and an 18m hydraulic offset fly jib to complete all four legs.

Additionally, in a twin lift with a Liebherr LTM1500-8.1 500t capacity mobile crane, the cranes were used to lift and position a Huisman marine crane at the stern of the seajack for permanent installation.

The LTM11200 was configured with a 53.3m boom and superlift and the LTM1500 with a 31.7m boom to lift the 138t Heisman in a ‘top and tail’ operation.

The Seajack ‘Leviathan’ is a self propelled, self elevating lift boat intended for harsh environment conditions and was commissioned to install wind turbines in the North Sea.

Equipped with the latest Class 2 dynamic positioning technology the vessel is fitted with high standard accommodation for up to 90 people.

The alternative option for Lamprell was to use Al Faris’s 500t Liebherr’s in a tandem lift operation with both cranes being rigged on luffing jib configuration.

This was ruled out as the cranes would have had to be repositioned for each of the four legs; taking more time to complete the job.

The four legs, each totalling a height of 86.46m, incorporate eight segments. For the 7th and 8th segments, each weighing 52t, the Liebherr crane was positioned alongside the Seajack to provide a 26m radius and capitalise on the cranes telescopic boom – capable of reaching up to 100m – to ensure fast lifts and speedier erection times for each of the legs.

The crane was configured with 202t counterweights and an 88.30m boom length with superlift and an 18m hydraulic offset fly jib to complete all four legs.

Additionally, in a twin lift with a Liebherr LTM1500-8.1 500t capacity mobile crane, the cranes were used to lift and position a Huisman marine crane at the stern of the seajack for permanent installation.

The LTM11200 was configured with a 53.3m boom and superlift and the LTM1500 with a 31.7m boom to lift the 138t Heisman in a ‘top and tail’ operation. This giant crane is the first of only seven cranes of its type to be built by Liebherr. It made its maiden lift in June, shifting chillers at a mall in Deira.