Norwegian Shipowner Orders 4 Knuckle-Boom Cranes from Huisman

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 29, Dutch lifting equipment company Huisman announced that it has secured an order from Norwegian offshore vessel owner Siem Industries to supply 4 knuckle-boom cranes for two newbuild subsea construction vessels (OSCVs): 2 × 400-tonne main cranes (with the main winch arranged below deck level) and 2 × 50-tonne deepwater auxiliary cranes. The two vessels are under construction at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in China, and the cranes will be manufactured at Huisman's production base in Zhangzhou, Fujian. Delivery is scheduled for one vessel each in 2029 and 2030.

The core technical parameters of both contracts are itemized in Huisman's announcement, with configurations tailored for 3,000-meter-class deepwater subsea construction. The 400-tonne main crane achieves a maximum lifting capacity of 400 tonnes in single-fall configuration, with a maximum hook travel of 3,000 meters, and can deliver full lifting capacity even in knuckle-boom extended conditions. Full-load active heave compensation (AHC) employs Huisman's proprietary secondary-controlled drive system to maintain the hook's vertical position relative to the seabed stable in waves—a prerequisite for subsea module installation, wellhead equipment intervention, and similar operations.

The control and safety systems are built around the precision and operating windows required for deepwater operations. The crane is equipped with Huisman's fifth-generation motion controller to enhance the coordinated precision of vessel position and hook motion. The LiDAR active anti-collision system identifies potential collision risks when the knuckle boom is extended and the load approaches the hull or subsea structures. Load peak shaving and hoisting speed boost modes broaden the operable weather window—the former reduces dynamic load peaks, while the latter increases hoisting speed within safe limits; together they contribute to operational efficiency and window utilization. On the power supply side, the crane design reduces power fluctuations fed to the vessel's electrical grid, supports energy-saving mode operation, and can be coordinated with other electrical system solutions. Together with the 3,000-meter hook travel and full-load AHC, the above systems form a complete technical package for deepwater subsea construction rather than a stacking of individual capabilities.

This order is part of the equipment package within Siem Industries' two-vessel newbuild program, rather than an isolated procurement. The two OSCVs have an overall length of 145 meters and a beam of 27 meters, designed by Norway's Sirius Design & Integration in cooperation with Siem Industries and Mawei Shipbuilding. Each vessel is equipped with 1 × 400-tonne + 1 × 50-tonne AHC crane, with design emphasis on operational flexibility and energy efficiency, suitable for subsea engineering tasks in offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, and other sectors. Among Siem's existing subsea engineering fleet, the "Siem Stingray" built in 2014 is equipped with a 250-tonne subsea crane and two work-class ROVs; the 400-tonne-class configuration of the two new vessels represents a significant increase in lifting capacity over its current mainstay vessel types.