Fagioli and Cometto load out together

Showing the scale of the system which has been used for loads up to 1,800 tonnes. Photo: Cometto

International heavy transport and lift engineering specialist Fagioli has combined transport and jacking equipment to form a unique solution for heavy duty load outs.

Described by transport equipment manufacturer Cometto as a dynamic system, it consists of a jack up system mounted on self propelled modular transporter (SPMT).

The hydraulic jack up system was installed on the deck of the Cometto modules and its first job was to transport and load out oversized offshore wind farm jackets. Weight got to more than 1,800 tonnes and the height was up to 80 metres. “The jack-up system proved to be the perfect solution for load out operations, especially where locating cones fitted to the jacket legs required accurate insertion into the grillage of the vessel and the standard SPMT stroke is insufficient”, explained Alberto Magni, Fagioli general manager for the Asia-Pacific region. “The jackets were safely transported at the full height, then upon reaching the final set down position on the roll-on/roll-off vessel, the jackets are then safely lowered down into the grillage.”

In more detail the transport system was three primary elements: 96 axle lines of Cometto SPMT with a combined payload of 4,608 tonnes; a jack-up system with four electronically synchronised lifting towers giving a total capacity of 2,400 tonnes; and modular transport beams fabricated by Fagioli, each with a span of 23 metres as standard.

Multiple applications

This combination of equipment can be changed to suit different applications and it complies with the standard DNV-GL requirement for load-out projects, Cometto said. At the time of writing in January 2023 Fagioli had loaded out 32 jackets each weighing up to 1,800 tonnes.

Tomasz Milewski, Fagioli engineering manager for the Asia-Pacific region, said, “Due to the extreme manoeuvrability of the Cometto SPMT, this set up can be used in very congested areas. For example, fabrication yards with simultaneous activities and even with a ground bearing pressure equal to 10 tonnes per square metre.”

Configured this way the SPMT can be used with either 3-point hydraulic suspension or with 4 points, where greater stability is needed.

Cometto said the jack-up units are a fully integrated and synchronized system which allows the lifting of entire jackets without any risk of overloading. Modular “barrels” are inserted into each lifting tower to raise the load in one-metre increments.

The entire Fagioli system with lifting beam, jack-up towers and SPMT modules. Photo: Cometto