SAL’s HLV Lone Up One DP Class
SAL‘s heavy lift vessel (HLV) Lone has completed her upgrade from DP class I to DP Class II. The HLV, which is part of the SAL fleet, was upgraded during December last in the dry-dock of the German shipyard Norderwerft (Sietas Group) in Hamburg. With this configuration, her service speed of 20 knots and her service capability the Lone is equipped to undertake ambitious projects within the oil and gas industry as well as offshore wind farms. SAL belongs to the “K”-Line Group.
In spring of this year the DP 2 system will be utilised during a six months offshore project which will see the vessel load a spooled carousel of 3,500 t and a manifold, both equipment for the oil and gas industry, in the Gulf of Mexico. The cargo will be delivered to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea where the carousel will be unspooled and the manifold will be discharged via a subsea handshake to an installation vessel.
Upgrade
For the upgrade to DP class II the Lone received one additional 1,200kW bow thruster, two retractable azimuths of 1,200 kW each and three 1,600kW auxiliary engines and generators along with a second switchboard and distribution system. To optimise the functionality of the high capacity cranes in offshore operations, the vessel was also equipped with a motion monitoring system.
SAL’s Future Strategy
“The Lone stands for SAL’s future strategy: the specialisation on ships with high crane capacity and state-of-the-art technology”, says Lars Rolner, CEO of SAL. “The installation of the DPII system ensures an optimal capability within the highly complex area of oil, gas and wind offshore projects.”