The Heron was designed specifically for offshore renewables – with second deck and extending platform capable of reaching the nacelle of wind turbine.
Imagine installing or replacing gearboxes, generators, turbine hubs and blades – on foot and without the need for the large boom cranes. Wouldn’t that make operations easier – wouldn’t it be safer for employees?
Would you consider changing three blades in roughly the same time take to change one operational efficiency?
And would you consider more productive up-time and less weather-related downtime an interesting cost-saving opportunity?
The Heron concept is jack-up with second elevating deck and extending platform. The second deck raises are speed of 2m per minute; has capacity of 500mT. The extending platform grabs the turbine with soft capture collar, minimising differential sway, to provide safe and stable working environment.
This second deck eliminates for large boom cranes, rope access and crew transfers via bump-n-jump boats. And it provides not only greater deck area but 2 levels of working environment at different heights.
Key Benefits:
- Safe access for intervention operations – adjusting the height second deck creates walk-to-work environment;
- The second deck acts as payload elevator – it self-elevate in wind conditions that prevent normal crane operations;
- Modular construction meaning tailored vessel sizes and capacities without major re-design costs;
- No AHTs are required, reducing the cost of mobilisation.
Efficiency Benefits:
- Faster delivery of operations at extended height;
- Providing heavy maintenance activities including lifting in and out of gearbox, generator, turbine hub and blades without large boom cranes (and associated vessels and costs);
- Exchanging 3 turbine blades in around the same time, take using boom cranes, to rig-up and dismount single blade;
- Providing secure and protected working platform at nacelle height removes of rope access;
- The soft capture system removes the differential relatives motion of mast sway and JU sway and allows for walk-to-work environment, removing the need for bump-n-jump access.
The Heron design was recognised finalist at World Oil Awards 2016, in category ‘Best New Horizon’ idea. View particulars and general specifications (March 2018) and GAs. (Opens as pdf.)
To find out more about how the Heron can meet your particular needs, call John Davies on +44 7946 396049 or mail at [email protected]
Or come and meet us in person at upcoming events.