Blue Tern
Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam completes crane lifetime extension for Blue Tern jack-up vessel
- Date
- June 2025
- Ship name
- Blue Tern
- Ship type
- Heavy-lift jack-up vessel
- Yard
- Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam
- Tasks performed for this project
- Refit
On 28 February, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s Blue Tern came into Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam’s (DSAm) lay-by berth No.1 to receive a lifetime extension of her 800-tonne Liebherr crane together with the installation of a new gangway pedestal, fabricated on-site in the yard.
The works on the 150-metre DP2 jack-up offshore wind turbine construction vessel involved specialist partners appointed by the client. They included crane expert Liebherr, responsible for taking care of disconnecting and connecting cabling and the removal and replacement of a section of boom. The fabrication of the new gangway began many months before Blue Tern’s arrival at the yard.
A variety of Mammoet cranes were also deployed to handle the removal and installation of the cranes and gangways. Mobile cranes of up to 750T were mobilised to make sure the lifts were carried out smoothly. The installation required the new crane boom section to be delivered to DSAm by water, where it was lifted off the transportation barge and moved to its temporary location while the existing section was removed.
With that completed, the 12 x 7.5 metre long replacement was lifted into place. On completion of the installation, 880 tonnes of water bags were used to undertake extensive load tests to ensure that the crane was ready to return to work.
In addition to the crane upgrade, the Blue Tern also had a new gangway and gangway pedestal installed while alongside at DSAm. Supplied by the client, the gangway also arrived by sea while its pedestal was fabricated in Damen’s Niron Staal Amsterdam steel facility. The coatings were applied in the yard’s paint workshop before the pedestal was installed in its position. With that completed, the new gangway and its tower were commissioned and prepared for use.
“With different specialists involved in the major elements of the project, there were challenges, but the cooperation and coordination between the various parties was good,” said Remco van Dam, Senior Project Manager at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam. “Problem solving included the use of container stacks to support the crane boom after its removal, and lifting plans for each of the components ensured maximum safety and efficiency.” The Blue Tern departed DSAm on time and ready for its next assignment.