Giant crane for next gen installation vessel

The Liebherr HLC 295000, which has been installed onboard DEME’s newbuild Orion I, is the company’s largest yet with a maximum lifting capacity of 5,000 tonnes.

”What we are witnessing here, is indeed a very memorable event. Fundamentally, it demonstrates what is achieved, when people are closely working together, especially alongside with a competent and reliable partner,” said Robert Pitschmann, global application manager heavy lift offshore, Liebherr.

Ground breaking

Liebherr said that the crane has a variety of functions and features which makes the HLC-Series unique in the market.

The crane’s base column, being only 16.8 metres diameter, means that it requires little space on deck and offers more storage space for transportation. 

With its maximum capacity of 5,000 tonnes and an outreach of up to 151 metres, the HLC can manage large components, for example, during the decommissioning of offshore platforms.

Moreover, a maximum lifting height of 175 metres enables the HLC 295000 to operate at the required height right away without any adjustments.

For Liebherr, DEME is a strong affiliate and both have been working together cooperatively during recent years. 

“Orion heralds a new era in the offshore energy industry – one which will be dominated by multimegawatt turbines, jackets and components. The combination of load capacity and superior lifting heights of Orion will enable DEME to play an important role in helping the industry successfully navigate the energy transition,” said Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO, DEME Group. 

In the coming weeks, the vessel will be headed towards Rügen where it will be working on installing windfarms and decommissioning “old” energy platforms.

One of its first jobs will be working on the construction of the offshore windfarm Arcadis Ost I in the Baltic Sea.