Heavy Lift Crane HLC 295000 to be repaired

It’s a symbol of partnership and unity, and a sign of confidence in one’s own strength. Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH will repair the heavy lift crane HLC 295000 and hand it over to its customer.

“At times like these, partnerships show how well they function. Although the events around May 2, 2020 have affected us, we are convinced of the high quality of our products. Thus, we will rebuild the HLC 295000 and successfully complete this project together with our partners,” said Leopold Berthold, Managing Director at Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH.

The company SARENS was assigned with the salvage of the damaged components of the HLC 295000. As one of the world’s leading heavy lift companies, SARENS has many years of experience and state-of-the-art technology at their disposal. The safety of the team, the vessel and the environment are the top priorities of all parties involved.

In coordination with the port authority, the port operator and Liebherr, the salvage concept will be refined and put into practice in the coming weeks. In highly simplified terms, the salvaging can be split into three phases. Since the crane cannot be salvaged directly on site, the first stage involves appropriate safeguarding of the scene of the accident in order to safely shift the vessel to Berth 25 in the international Port of Rostock. In phase two, the insecure components shall be recovered to ensure controlled and safe dismantling of the crane during phase three. The salvage work is expected to start in September.

Comprehensive repairs are necessary during the coming months in order to put the heavy lift crane back into operation. According to the current information both the 145-metre long boom and parts of the A-frame will be completely newly manufactured. The necessary steel construction work will begin in September 2020 at the Liebherr plant in Rostock.

With a lifting capacity of up to 5,000 tonnes at an outreach of 35 metres and a maximum lifting height of 175 metres above deck, the HLC 295000 is the largest offshore crane Liebherr has ever manufactured. The fact that the HLC series and the expansion of the heavy lift programme is firmly anchored in the strategy of the Liebherr Maritime Division is not least due to the energy revolution. Considerably more and larger-sized offshore wind energy farms are being erected in order to ensure sustainable energy supplies for today’s and future generations. The lifting height of the HLC 295000 is a decisive factor for the erection of these modern wind farms. Added to this is the trend of dismantling disused offshore oil and gas platforms from which large and heavy parts have to be disassembled in open seas - an important task for the new HLC series from Liebherr, which they can master thanks to the lifting capacity of up to 5,000 tonnes.