Heerema and Ulstein upgrade SSCV Thialf with new pile gripper

Heerema’s vessel SSCV Thialf, famously one of the world’s biggest semi-submersible crane vessels responsible for a large number of oil and gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea and elsewhere, was recently retrofitted with a new motion-compensated gripper frame (MCGF) capable of installing 3,200-tonne monopiles of up to 12.5m diameter – thereby allowing it to install some of the largest offshore wind turbines.

The new gripper is Heerema’s first, according to Charlotte Roodenburg, Huisman head of Sales New Build, who first announced the retrofit in 2022. “Huisman is very honoured to receive this order, for Heerema’s first pile gripper,” she said. “This is a complex project, the execution of which will draw upon the knowledge and experience of both parties. We are looking forward to collaborating with Heerema towards the delivery of a successful project for Equinor.”

Huisman constructed the gripper in the Czech Republic, with Ulstein participating in the design and engineering phases. The motion-compensated gripper is mounted on rails on the port side of the vessel, counteracting weather and vessel movement to maintain stability while installing monopiles.

Ulstein was tasked with performing the engineering and fatigue calculations which would allow the heavy gripper and complex rail system to be installed on the side of SSCV Thialf’s hull. “While everything looked great on paper, the new structures needed to align seamlessly with the existing decks and bulkheads of the SSCV Thialf,” highlighted Ulstein in a statement last week. “Big compliments to all involved for achieving a perfect fit on the first attempt!”