Dutch engineering company TWD was commissioned by Shinfox Far East (SFE) to design a Jacket Flange Lifting Tool (JFLT) and Pin Pile Lifting Tool (PPLT) for the 295MW TPC II Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Changhua County, Taiwan.
TWD’s JFLT design, with a 3000t WLL, is specifically engineered to lift jackets. The design features three rotating clamps that securely attach under the jacket’s flange serving as the lifting interface. These clamps mechanically lock during lifting, significantly reducing operational risks. The clamps are connected to a Y-shaped spreader beam, which is equipped with a tugger frame for precise rotation and a catcher for accurate placement.
Additionally, a dedicated transport frame was developed to serve both as storage for the tool and as a mock-up to test its dimensions, mirroring the jacket parts it interacts with. To ensure safety and reliability, two load test setups were designed to validate the load-bearing capacity of the clamps and spreader beam.
One particular design challenge was ensuring accurate tool placement without causing damage. TWD addressed this by integrating a catcher on the spreader beam and a guide frame that mounts on the tool’s destination. Additionally, landing feet and guides were included to control the final stages of the landing sequence.
The PPLT, with a 800t WLL, had a strict delivery timeline. TWD addressed this by adapting the design to match component procurement times, and providing procurement and fabrication assistance. Source: TWD
