ALE perform load test of world’s largest capacity land based crane

The world’s largest capacity land based crane, the AL.SK350, has been rigged for the first time and successfully load tested. The crane was load-tested in preparation of its first lifts on a FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) module integration project in Brazil.

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ALE’s AL.SK350 crane has been rigged in its current biggest configuration, with 49m ballast radius and 4,000t ballast. The main boom is a 130m long A-frame design on a very stable 18m wide base. The crane is equipped with a 4,000t main winch system and 600t auxiliary quick winch system. For loads up to 5000t a strand jack lifting system can be installed.

ALE will use the AL.SK350 crane to lift and install approximately 40 modules onto the P-74 FPSO vessel in the South of Brazil. With its 354,000tm load moment capacity, it is the largest capacity crane in the market by a significant margin and it’s huge lifting capabilities enables clients to construct equipment for lifting weighing heavier than ever before.

Cees Segeren, one of the designers of the crane, commented: “By using our innovative cranes on other FPSO integration projects showcases our capabilities of the equipment in this sector. It’s fantastic to see the revolutionary AL.SK350 crane rigged for the first time. Now we have completed our final testing, we are looking forward to the first lifts.”

The AL.SK350 crane was launched in 2013 with a lifting capacity of 5,000t and a load moment of 354,000tm. The AL.SK cranes are also available in AL.SK190 and AL.SK700 configurations, achieving capacities up to 4,300t and 8,000t respectively. Furthermore, the cranes can be equipped with a 3,400t capacity heavy duty jib. The jib will be used on the next FPSO module integration project in Nigeria in the first half of 2017.