The latter company’s MD David Ravestein, MD told MJ that the biggest problem they had with some of the linkspans they built was the actual delivery, as on occasion the company had to rely on contracting a barge and crane from outside sources.
‘No one likes to be dependent on third parties’, said Mr Ravestein, adding that sometimes deliveries had been delayed for want of a capable vessel. Therefore, the company decided to take control and fit out a Skyline Barge 19 for its own use.
The Skyline barges give a good working area. Square bowed, they are very functional and look very much like a floating section of quay measuring 60m LOA, with a 22m beam and a 3.5m draught.
Since Ravestein specialises in producing heavy transfer gear such as linkspans, the company predictably wanted to design and fit out the whole unit as a completely bespoke, in-house package tailored to fit its own needs.
This is where North Sea Winches stepped in. Ravestein ordered two hoist winches with a 14 ton capability, which take 286m of 32mm hoist wire each. The company also ordered a pair of 45 ton winches that can take 182m of 44mm wire rope. The crane when finished will have the capability of lifting 250 tons on a 14m outreach.
However, the winches also have the job of pulling the frame of the crane itself up and down.
This gives the barge flexibility, as the ‘fold down’ nature of the crane means that the whole thing can get under superstructure such as bridges with only a few metres above deck clearance. The crane tucks away neatly within the footprint of the barge, with nothing left to snare the unwary when the barge comes alongside.
