Yantai Raffles christens world largest crane

Yantai Raffles Shipyard Limited (YRS) has christened the world’s first fixed dual-beam gantry crane, ‘Taisun’, which boasts a lifting capacity at 20,133m tonnes. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) was present at the ceremony and witnessed a demonstration of the crane hoisting a launching barge 30 meters above the water (pictured) to set a new heavy lift world record and presented YRS chairman Brian Chang with a “Witness Load Testing” certificate.
The crane, which is now entering commercial service, has already been earmarked for nine lifts over the next 24 months. YRS claims that it will revolutionize the way large offshore projects such as semi-submersibles and FPSOs are built as it provides a safe, uniquely controllable and highly cost effective way to join super sections of up to 20,000mt. Overall project man-hours are expected to be reduced by up to 2m and overall build schedules and time-to-market are also expected to be shortened.

Source: SeatradeAsia Online