One of the leading Danish suppliers in the offshore wind industry, Cadeler, is supporting its Wind Osprey vessel with the latest RL 2600. This acquisition is part of the company’s upgrade initiatives through which by early 2024, its O-class vessels will be ready to support the next-generation of wind turbines. Cadeler visited Liebherr Rostock in March for a personal kick-off meeting, discussing project-specific developments of the deck crane, and touring the high-tech factory in which the crane is built. This project paves the way for a long and fruitful partnership.
Building on the winds of change. Wind turbines are sizing up, as are demands for even larger cranes with higher specifications. Established in 2008, Cadeler has become one of the leading offshore wind industry companies. They have installed over 500 offshore wind turbines and equally as many foundations and are aiming to become the key supplier in the industry’s ongoing development. Among the essential assets of their work are two highly efficient Windfarm Installation Vessels, the Wind Orca and Wind Osprey. In addition to offshore wind farm installation, these vessels are very well suited for maintenance and decommissioning tasks within offshore wind.
The latest-generation Liebherr Ram Luffing Offshore Crane, the RL 2600, is part of the modernisation of Wind Osprey. With its focus on logistical support moving tools and smaller attachments, the deck crane is well positioned to support the vessel’s larger main crane. It has also been optimised to feature a small tail radius and the absence of machinery housing, which allows it to operate in confined space conditions and environments. Its 7 m3 cabin is highly ergonomic and ensures low-fatigue work for the operator. The combination of these features, as well as Liebherr’s high reliability and extensive service network, were among the main reasons why Cadeler chose Liebherr for its next-generation upgrades.
New crane to meet demands of the growing offshore wind energy industry
Jacob Heinricy Jensen, Chief Operations Officer at Cadeler, says:
“Besides upgrading the lifting capacity of our Windfarm Installation Vessel main cranes to effectively handle larger and heavier wind turbines, we are also upgrading our equipment with innovative features and seeking strategic alliances with companies that will be with us in the long run. Liebherr fulfils our criteria for innovation, reliability, and service, and we are looking forward to working with them closely on our flagship projects”
The Wind Osprey’s main crane will also be upgraded. It will feature a lifting capacity of 1,600 metric tonnes at a radius of 40 metres, and a main hook able to reach 160 metres above the main deck. The Liebherr RL 2600 will replace an older cylinder luffing deck crane, and it is primed to support the installation of larger wind turbines for years to come.
Stefan Schneider, Global Application Manager General Purpose Offshore Cranes, says:
“Our new partnership with Cadeler marks a remarkable opportunity for us to work with a leading provider in the wind energy industry. This is a synergistic foundation for us in which we provide reliable products for Cadeler, while learning from our collaboration to further innovate our technologies to accommodate future industry growth. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration.”
The latest generation of the RL 2600
The RL series is distinguished by its particularly lightweight and compact design. The cranes are primarily used for maintenance and supply work on both fixed and floating offshore installations, particularly in the wind power industry and the oil and gas sector. Another special feature of the new RL crane series is the innovative cabinet inside the slewing column. The technology behind this innovation is called “EXpressure,” the world’s first explosion-proof Ex d cabinet that safely releases explosion pressure. It has been developed by Liebherr partner R. Stahl AG. The crane can also be ex-certified (through ATEX and IECEx).
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