“As a result, the number of mega cranes available on the market remains relatively low when compared to the 2,000-ton capacity class and below,” Bohne said. Long lead times, engineering capabilities and costs are a barrier into this market. “In these environments we see large, preassembled modules being lifted as part of topside integrations and more recently for jacket foundation lifts,” he said.
As other industry segments also started to adopt modularized construction techniques, market capacity in this class of cranes have been employed in offshore yards for both conventional and renewable energy projects, Bohne said.
Mammoet’s mega cranes were initially designed to serve the petrochemical and nuclear power segments to lift and install large and heavy process vessels such as reactors. The PTC200 and PTC35 are both working on the Gulf Coast in the U.S. Mammoet’s fleet of super heavy lift cranes are working on projects in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. It is built on a ring and is fully containerized. Mammoet’s Sliding Gantry (MSG) offers an 80,000-tonne meter load moment and 3,600 tons of lifting capacity. “The 350,000-tonne meter load moment of the larger configuration (SK) makes it the strongest land-based crane in the world,” he said. Lastly, Mammoet’s two SK cranes are also 5,000-ton capacity machines. The 150 and 210 configurations use a stronger boom type which increases the load moment capacity by 10,000-tonne meters.” The 140 and 150 setups use the smaller ring, while the 200 and 210 setup uses the larger ring. There are three of these models which can be rigged in 140, 150, 200 and 210 configurations depending on the ring kit and boom type used. “The larger, next generation PTCs are in the 5,000-ton capacity range. “While the PTC 35DS has the advantage of being fully containerized, the PT50 does offer a larger load moment capacity,” he said. There are four PTC 35DS machines and one PT50 in the fleet.
The PT50 and PTC 35DS are both 2,000-ton capacity machines. “These cranes have all been designed and built in-house by Mammoet,” he said. In the ring crane category, Mammoet has the PT, PTC and SK fleet. “In the crawler category, we have the CC 12600, which is a 2,000-ton crawler crane and the LR 13000 which is a 3,000-ton crane.” “We own and operate crawler cranes, ring cranes and sliding gantries in this lifting category,” Bohne said. Mammoet USA South’s Rick Bohne said Mammoet has the world’s largest mega crane fleet (2,000-ton and above capacity.) 5.004, which governs the design of steel structures of general use. The crane is fully compliant with the EN 13000 standard and with F.E.M. The crane was assembled and tested in both its SFSL fixed jib configuration and SSL configuration, and subjected to 125 percent of maximum recommended load. Testing of the Focus30 took place in two phases, under the watchful eye of Lloyd’s Register, an independent third-party surveyor. Its low ground-bearing pressure helps to protect underground infrastructure and reduce stabilization issues.
According to Mammoet, the Focus30 will enhance construction projects in oil refineries and cities where lifts are surrounded by live plant buildings and people. Mammoet’s Focus30 has completed testing and is being sent to its first project in the U.K. There are a handful of other mega cranes around the world, including the Manitowoc 31000 that has been building sports stadiums over the past decade and Liebherr’s 3,300-ton capacity LTR 13000 that work on projects around the globe. Lampson International’s Transi-Lift LTL-2600 has been working for three years at the Plant Vogtle power plant in Georgia, replacing generators, making top head lifts, placing building rings and setting roof modules. Deep South Crane & Rigging revealed the debut of its 3,000-ton capacity VersaCrane TC36000/S2 last fall. Sarens’ 5,000-ton capacity SGC-250 completed its largest lift ever at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in England. Mammoet recently launched its Focus30, a 2,500-metric-ton capacity crane that completed testing in December 2020 and is being dispatched to its first project. Super heavy lift cranes are making headlines around the world.