Heavy Lift Carriers

[ombugge]

Looks like it works now. Will post more when time permits.
This pics got lost because I moved it on photobucket.com.
Now restored (I hope)

[pakarang]

Looks like it works now. Will post more when time permits

Very interesting image of the heavy lifter almost submerged! Really awesome!

[ombugge]

She was ballasted to the max. allowed to (and then some) to load the J/U Rig Trident 12. Barely any freeboard, even at the Forec'sled deck.


Here she is, ready to depart Johor for Bombay. (2001 I think)
I'll try to put together a posting with the loading process sequencial for those who are interested in this kind of operations.

[pakarang]

I for one would be very interested seeing this sequence.... quite amazing operation to sink a ship in order to move a rig!

[ombugge]

Here is a few pics from when the Mighty Servant 3 sunk off Lunada, Angola in Dec. 2006:






She has now been salvaged and is back in service.

FYI The rig being offloaded, the Aleutian Key, floated off with the full crew of 85 on board and no damages. She was towed to her first drilling location.

Sorry about the distortion on these pics. I took them from the MIGAS Report, issued to "transfere expert knowledge". (In this case how NOT to offload rigs)

[pakarang]

Those are indeed quite dramatic images of a time when something went a bit wrong.

Very interesting to see these images though.

[ombugge]

Since these ships isn't realy Offshore Vessels and doesn't fit into any other category in this forum (at least as far as I have found) I think it appropriate to start a new thread only for this type of vessels, of which there are many.

I can start of this tread with the promissed sequence of loading.
The following is from the load-out of the newbuilt J/U Willpower (AWILCO, Oslo at that time) on the Black Marlin (Dockwise) in S'pore in Aug. 2006, bound for Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia:


Cribbing and Guide Posts being prepared on the deck of Black Marlin.



Wilpower ready to depart from the building yard, PPL, Singapore.


Black Marlin standing by at Jurong West Anchorage.


Wilpower arrived at JWA and standing by. Waiting on daylight tomorrow for loading.


First light. Black Marlin has ballasted down to deck just out of water during the night.


Wilpower postioned on deck with Stopper against aft Guide Post.


On deck with space to spare.


Seafastening. (The rig will float off if the HVC should sink)


Transvers seafastening. Strong box welded to the rig, stoppers to the ship, but no welding between the two. (Rig can float free)



Black Marlin with Wilpower secured on deck, ready to depart S'pore for R.T., Saudi Arabia.

(I'll see if I can find some pics of the actual positioning of the rig over the cribbing, an operation that require great accuracy)

[pakarang]

Absolutely amazing operation and amazing ships..

I have a couple of heavy lifters in my files as well, I'll pull the files out.

[ombugge]

J.O.

Maybe you can transfer my earlier postings of HLC to this thread as well?

I have pics from several loading and off-loading operation, incl. the most difficult one I have been involded in; transport of the bottom slabs of the Ekofisk Barrier from Rotterdam to Aalfjord in 1988.

That was the heaviest single cargo carried at that time, (27,000 t. each)
The problem was not only the weight and size (140 m. diam.), but the fact that it was concrete, which doesn't bend like steel does. VERY trick.

Reverting with that transport and the Tow-out of the Ekofisk Barrier the following year + a couple of other major operations from that same year in the North Sea. (Have to dig them out and scan first)

[pakarang]

Maybe you can transfer my earlier postings of HLC to this thread as well?

Good idea. Done as we speak.

Looking forward to seeing this interesting thread grow.

[pilotdane]

ombugge: I am glad you joined the forum. I really like the up close pictures and description of the heavy lifts. Thank you.

Is it common to not weld the load to the ship? Or is this a new procedure since the Mighty Servant sinking?

[ombugge]

Is it common to not weld the load to the ship? Or is this a new procedure since the Mighty Servant sinking?

Yes it has been the practise for many years. In the early days of dry transport of rigs on barges (1975 - 1980) it was not always the case, but since the Heavy Lift Ships came on the market it has been.

This only apply to rigs and barges etc., which is loaded by "Float on/off", not to non-buoyant cargos, such as Offshore Structures etc. loaded by Skid-on.

When the Migthy Servant 2 capsized and sunk in Berhala Strait, Indonesia with a 10,000 t. Deck Structure on board, the cargo did not fall off, even at 90 degr. list.

I'll see if I can post a few pics of a Skid-on operation as well.

[ombugge]

Here is the reverse operation.
Russian J/U Murmanskaya arriving Singapore from Murmansk via Stavanger and Cape of Good Hope for much needed upgrading. Something like 13,000 n.miles voyage on deck of the HLC Transhelf.

The Yard take this opportunity to check the plate thickness.


Here is why. We don't want her to sink on the way in to the Yard. (MPA S'pore may get a little upset)


The next morning.Transhelf partly ballasted down, ready for offloading


OK. Enough clearance but we still need some more water above deck.


Tugs made fast and ready to pull us off.


We are moving away from the Guide post.



We are off. Her is what is left of the aft Stabilizing Columns. Crew is waiting for the boat to take them back to the Forecastle.

Where the heck is the deck?


Under tow to the yard.


A bit of a special design this one. Russian designed and built to be moved through the rivers between the Caspian Sea and the White Sea.

[Ralf__]

Absolutely fascinating. I have never seen this operation from such a short distance. I especially like picture N° 7!! Curious sight. Thank you for sharing these with us.

[ehp]

Amazing. Just so cool to see these photos up close. Just reminds me that one never stops learning...I find out something new every day here!!!! WAAAYYY cool!!

[PeaSea8ch]

On October 12, 2000 the US Navy destroyer USS Cole was the victim of a suicide bombing attack while fueling in Aden Harbor off the coast of Yemen leaving a 40 by 60 foot gash in the port-side hull. After divers inspected the hull and found the keel had not been damaged it was determined the vessel could not be repaired here and would be sent home to drydock to make the necessary repairs.

The Norwegian heavy lift semi-submersible salvage ship MV Blue Marlin was sent to the scene to transport the Cole home.


Photo Courtesy US Navy


Photo Courtesy US Navy


Photo Courtesy US Navy


Photo Courtesy US Navy


Photo Courtesy US Navy

The USS Cole safely arrived home at Pascagoula, Mississippi on Christmas Eve December 24, 2000.

[ombugge]

Thanks for those pics. I have seen a lot of of pics from this operation on board the Blue Marlin while loading Power Barges for Brazil on her in Batangas and Singapore in 2002. She happened to be in the region after having transported some Mineswipers for the US Navy from the States to Bahrain.

Although Norwegian owned an operated at the time, she was fully manned by Russians. The Mate loved to tell the story of when the CIA special forces came out to protect them while doing this load-out. The Navy had apparently "forgotten" to tell CIA of the nationality of the crew onboard.
When he went on the Tanoy to make an announcement to the crew, using his most commanding Russian voice, it appeared to shock the CIA guys. (They were probably still in Cold War mode)
Also, when they arrived in Pascacola, there were problems because of suspicion towards Russians, but they were eventually allowed into a "deep hole" near the Navy Base, where the ship could be submerged enough to float off the USS Cole.

By the way, the reason for the way she is loaded (Offsett relative to the C/L of BM) is not that she is too long, but to avoid damaging the Asdic Dome hanging down fwrd. on the USS Cole.

[ehp]

LOVE that story--and this whole THREAD!!!

[pakarang]

By the way, the reason for the way she is loaded (Offsett relative to the C/L of BM) is not that she is too long, but to avoid damaging the Asdic Dome hanging down fwrd. on the USS Cole.

Thanks so much, that would have been my next question!

Extremely fascinating indeed.

[PeaSea8ch]

ombugge,
Thank you for providing some rather interesting information about the moving operation. I was always intrigued by the odd shape of the Cole's bulbous bow in the last photo I posted. Now, I know the reason why!

Keep those great photos coming!