The SSCV ''Thialf'' is a huge semi-submersible crane vessel operated by Heerema Marine Contractors, and it was the largest crane vessel in the world until the became the largest in 2019.

History

The ship was constructed in 1985 as ''DB-102'' for

McDermott International McDermott International, Ltd is a global provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott has more than 40,000 employees, as well as a diversified fleet of specialty marine co ...

by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. In 1997, it was taken over by Heerema Marine Contractors after discontinuation of their joint venture with McDermott, HeereMac, and renamed ''Thialf''.

Layout

The ''Thialf'' has two cranes with a combined maximum lifting capacity of 14,200 metric tons. It is equipped with a class III

dynamic positioning Dynamic positioning (DP) is a computer-controlled system to automatically maintain a vessel's position and heading by using its own propellers and thrusters. Position reference sensors, combined with wind sensors, motion sensors and gyrocompas ...

system. Propulsion and position keeping is by six 5,500 kW retractable azimuthing thrusters. For shallow waters there are 12 Flipper Delta anchors, 22.5 t, with 2,500 meter, 80 mm mooring wire. The hull consists of two pontoons with four columns each. Transit draught is about 12 metres. For lifting operations it will normally be ballasted down to . This way the pontoons (with a draught of 13.6 metres) are well submerged to reduce the effect of waves and swell. It is able to accommodate 736 people. Lightship weight is 72,484 t.

Noteworthy projects

* Installing the pylon of the Erasmus Bridge in 1995. * Decommissioning of the

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in 1998. * In 2000 it set a world record of 11,883 t by lifting Shell's Shearwater topsides, beaten by Saipem 7000 in 2004 with the Sabratha deck lifting of 12,150 t. * In 2004 it installed the topsides on BP's Holstein, at the time the world's largest

spar SPAR, originally DESPAR, styled as DE SPAR, is a Dutch multinational that provides branding, supplies and support services for independently owned and operated food retail stores. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1932, by Adriaan van Well ...

. The lift was a record for the Gulf of Mexico: 7,810 t. The current record for Gulf of Mexico is now held by the ''Saipem 7000'' with the 9,521 t of PEMEX PB-KU-A2 deck installed in March 2007. * In 2005 it installed the heaviest single piece foundation piles: 2.74 meters diameter x 190 meters long, weighing 818 t each for Chevron's Benguela Belize compliant tower. * In 2009 the ship became involved in the Alpha Ventus project, the first German offshore windfarm. * 2017-2018: The Thialf was involved in the installation of the platform sections of the Johan Sverdrup Complex—part of the development of the Johan Sverdrup oil field.

Footnotes

External links

Heerema's ''Thialf'' page

Actual position, status, weather and other updates from SSCV Thialf

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thialf, SSCV Ships built by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Ships of the Netherlands Crane vessels Semi-submersibles 1985 ships