Liebherr special design ship crane for world's largest cutter dredger leaves factory in Rostock/Germany

The Loading at the quay edge of the Liebherr plant in the port of Rostock was precision work. The vessel MV Aura is only 70 centimeters wider than the loaded CBW F 3450. This challenge was met with the help of two Liebherr LHM 800 in tandem lift operation and required maximum concentration on the part of everyone involved. With a total duration of only 60 minutes for the entire lift, this task was solved quickly, accurately and professionally. Shortly after, the ship set off for its port of destination in Holland.

The Dutch shipyard IHC Holland B.V. ordered the crane in November 2017 for the construction of the Spartacus, the world's largest dredger. It will be built for the Belgian DEME Group, which is already implementing the well-known Orion project with the biggest offshore crane ever built by Liebherr (Crane type HLC). The specially manufactured ship crane type CBW-F 3450 is based on the existing CBW series and has a maximum lifting capacity of 60 tons at an outreach of 32,2 m. It is installed on a mobile gantry in order to be used over the entire length of the ship. The curved boom is designed for installation and maintenance work on open water, especially for replacing the heavy-duty cutter head of the Spartacus. Due to the bended boom swinging movements will be minimized since the hook is held close to the cutter head.

The integrated Liebherr Litronic control system enabling unmatched precision in handling of heavy parts the crane driver during demanding operations on open water. Further safety features, as the explosion protected boom tip and obstruction detection for the travelling gantry makes the CBW-F 3450 the perfect ship crane model for this special operation. The 164 m long ‘Spartacus’ will also be the world’s first LNG-powered Cutter Suction Dredger and follows the order of the first LNG-powered Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers ‘Minerva’ and ‘Scheldt River’. With a total installed capacity of 44.180 kW ‘Spartacus’ will be the most powerful Cutter Suction Dredger that has ever been built. The vessel’s power will enable her to cut harder soils at speeds that have not been possible before. This means that works can be taken on by the cutter dredger rather than relying on blasting.

Liebherr Maritime Cranes, DEME and IHC Holland B.V. accentuate their partnership with the graduation of this upscale dredger project and look forward to a common and successful future.