Hercules orders adaptable topsides/subsea crane for newbuild support ship

Hercules Supply has partnered with Techano Oceanlift to supply a state-of-the-art knuckle boom crane for its upcoming multi-purpose support vessel, currently under construction at Fujian Mawei Shipyard. This crane, boasting a capacity of 70 metric tons, is designed to facilitate subsea construction and topside lifting tasks for offshore wind and oil and gas projects. Scheduled for delivery in July 2026, the crane will be installed at a third-party facility in Europe.

Advanced Features for Enhanced Operations

The new crane will be equipped with an active heave compensated winch featuring a 3,000-meter wire, specifically tailored for subsea operations. This advanced technology ensures that the crane can perform effectively even in challenging marine environments. Additionally, the crane will incorporate control and motion compensating systems developed by Intellilift, a sister company of Techano Oceanlift, both of which are subsidiaries of Nekkar.

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Safety is a top priority in the design of this crane. It will include a detachable, Safelift 3D-compensated lifting tool, which enhances safety during lifting operations, particularly when transferring loads from the vessel to topside installations in rough weather conditions. This innovative tool is designed to maintain its position during subsea operations, eliminating the need to switch the knuckle boom between different work scopes, thereby streamlining operations and improving efficiency.

Expanding Techano’s Portfolio

Techano Oceanlift is also making strides in other projects. In early March, the company secured a contract with Sefine Shipyard to deliver an offshore crane for a new construction support vessel being built for a collaboration between Agalas, Eidesvik, and Reach Subsea. Shortly after, Techano Oceanlift was awarded another contract by CRIST S.A. to supply two offshore knuckle boom cranes for an offshore support vessel (OSV) under construction at the yard. This vessel is being built for DOF and will serve offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.