Heerema has set a new world record lifting a module of 15,300 tonnes with its new heavy-lift vessel Sleipnir. Such a load has never been lifted by a crane vessel before.

The record was set while lifting topsides for Noble Energy’s Leviathan development in the Mediterranean Sea near Israel. Sleipnir installed the two main topsides with a total weight of 24.500 tonnes in less than 20 hours.

According to Heerema, Sleipnr was selected for the job in order to save the budget. “As Sleipnir is capable of lifting large and commissioned modules, the installation process takes less offshore time and is, therefore, less costly,” the Dutch offshore contractor states. Rates for vessels like Sleipnir usually amount to several hundred thousand dollars a day.

Heerema’s CEO Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven said he is “very proud” of the record lift. “Sleipnir is a unique vessel and our client enjoys the benefits,” he said.

Sleipnir is the largest semi-submersible crane vessel in the world. In tandem operation, the two revolving cranes can lift up to 20,000 tonnes. The vessel is also the first of its kind to sail on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which greatly reduces the production of harmful emissions by the ship’s engines.

Next jobs

Heerema already has a number of projects lined up for Sleipnir, after it completes its work for the Leviathan development. The vessel will soon set sail to the North Sea where it will install and remove jackets and topsides installation at the Tyra field in the Danish North Sea, carry out decommissioning work for the Brae B project in the British North Sea, and install the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) Alpha HVAC platform in the North Sea, off the Dutch coast.

Speaking at Sleipnir’s christening in May this year, Pieter Heerema said that “Sleipnir’s innovative capabilities will place Heerema even firmer at the forefront of developments in the offshore oil, gas and wind energy industry for both installations and decommissioning.”