Enerpac commissioned to build world’s largest offshore overhead gantry crane

The manufacturer is supplying the crane to a French consortium that comprises Bouygues Travaux Publics, VINCI Construction and Demathieu Bard Construction.

According to Enerpac, the crane will have lifting capacity of 4,800 tonne and will be used to install precast viaduct columns for a new coastal highway. This will be located around Reunion Island, which is located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

The 5,400m coastal highway, called Route du Littoral, will connect Saint Denis, which is the administrative capital of La Réunion, with La Possession and replaces the existing coastal road that is exposed to falling rocks and flooding from swells and tropical storms.

The consortium is constructing a barge to construct the offshore highway with Enerpac supplying the offshore crane, which is being built at the Enerpac Integrated Solutions manufacturing facility in Hengelo, The Netherlands, for the barge.

The barge will pick up concrete precast foundation elements such as gravity base, pile head and segments at the harbour of Reunion Island. These will then be positioned on the seabed with he Enerpac crane used to make at least 200 foundation block lifts.

Jeroen Naalden, global director of Enerpac Integrated Solutions, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Bouygues Travaux Publics, VINCI Construction and Demathieu Bard Construction on this important infrastructure project.

"With a history of being involved in the Kursk salvage offshore, the Millau Viaduct construction and other significant heavy lifting operations, we have a growing reputation for excellence in bespoke heavy lift systems."

Construction of the 4,800 tonne offshore crane has already started at Enerpac Integrated Solutions manufacturing facility in Hengelo, The Netherlands.

Recently Enerpac launched a new wireless-controlled hydraulic load hoisting and positioning system for the South East Asia market.

The latest iteration of its Enerpac SyncHoist system offers load maneuvering vertically and horizontally by using one crane to control load up to hundreds of tonnes.

Wireless control of the company's SyncHoist enables a crane driver to "simply" perform complex load lifting, as well as shifting and positioning manoeuvres from their cab.
The system is available in load capacities customised to individual tasks, with a reach of up to 1500mm from each of several lifting points.