Sarens Lifts 48 Wind Farm Jackets at Lamprell Fabrication Facilities

Since the fall of 2019, Sarens has been working with UAE-based client Lamprell to upend and lift 48 of its newly-fabricated wind farm jackets. The project is currently ongoing across two Lamprell facilities, in Sharjah and Hamriyah, where Sarens is using the following equipment:

• CC8800-1 in SFVL 96/12 configuration (Hamriyah site)
• CC8800-1 in BSFVL 102/12 configuration (Sharjah site)
• LR1600-2 in SDB 66m configuration (Sharjah site)

Sarens is lifting three different types of wind farm jackets, including a range of different-sized top and bottom sections weighing up to 777,5 tons and measuring up to 52 meters tall.

In planning the operation, Sarens selected cranes with the appropriate capacity for the job. A boom booster was also provided for three of the jackets, due to their weight and the client’s desire to be able to rotate them.

Because it was the first time Sarens cranes operated in the UAE, the Group had to be prepared for new logistical challenges, like obtaining clearance for temporary imports, securing permits to work, abiding by visa requirements.

Customs procedures also impacted the timeline for equipment arrival on site. One CC8800-1 crane sailed from Rotterdam and required about eight weeks, from loading to customs, to arrive on site. The other arrived from Saudi Arabia via road, which required six weeks. The LR1600-2 also arrived by sea and required eight weeks between loading and customs. Once the equipment was on site, it took about 10-12 days to set it up.

The Sarens crew is working within tight time and space constraints, with minimal margin for error. Limited working space is a particular challenge, explains Project Manager Neil Hair, because most of the yard has been dedicated to jacket fabrication.

“With most of the yard being taken up by fabrication, our engineers found the plot plans were constantly changing. Even on the morning of lifts we have been known to change a drawing or two.”

The local weather conditions also present continuous challenges. Crews at both sites face extreme summertime heat reaching up to 50°C, as well as poor drainage conditions that can cause flooding delays. With temperatures rising, they will need to pay special attention to the equipment to ensure it remains in optimal working order.