MacGregor launches fibre-rope crane

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has announced that they can now offer the offshore industry a technology-leading fibre-rope crane. The crane has been developed by combining MacGregor's proven offshore crane technology with fibre-rope tensioning technology from Parkburn Precision Handling Systems. The companies have entered into a cooperation agreement to combine the two technologies.

"MacGregor recognises that by partnering with experts in specific technological areas, it can deliver solutions that exceed its own capabilities," said MacGregor's Vice President, R&D and Technology, Baard Trondahl Alsaker. "We see ourselves as being able to integrate the best technology available to deliver systems with technology-leading capabilities."

The new MacGregor crane features a simple-to-operate fibre-rope lifting system that employs Parkburn's unique tensioning technology. The Parkburn equipment eliminates the heating and degradation problems associated with on-load fibre ropes stored on winch drums. Additionally, it can accommodate non-uniformities resulting from splices in the rope.

"This is an important advance for handling loads at depth," says Mr Alsaker. "The great advantage of fibre rope in this context is that it weighs virtually nothing in water, so regardless of the length of rope paid out, it does not add anything to the load experienced by the crane. This is in complete contrast to the situation with wire rope, where the ever increasing weight of wire paid out limits the load permissible in relation to depth."

The new crane will be introduced to the market as a 150T fully heave-compensated knuckle boom crane. It will have the capability to reach 4000m of water depth.

The MacGregor fibre rope technology is also suitable for retrofit on existing subsea cranes.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/product-news/04022016/macgregor-introduces-fibre-rope-crane-2028/