On November 4 2014, at Houston Port, Texas, US, G.C. Maritime successfully carried out multiple five-yearly, 275-tonne load tests on three heavy-lift marine cargo cranes aboard a vessel belonging to one of the world’s largest heavy lift vessel owner-operators.
Following cargo operations, service engineers conducted five tests on three Neuenfelder Fährdeich (TTS NMF) cranes using G.C. Maritime’s own 35-tonne water bags, 150-tonne load cells and calibrated flow meters.
Two cranes were tested at 275 tonnes by simultaneously suspending five water bags, each filled to 27.5 tonnes, from the ends of the cranes’ spreader bars. The secondary hooks of these cranes were then tested at 40 tonnes each. The third crane was tested at 88 tonnes.
G.C. Maritime general manager Hans Haneveld said: "This sort of operation requires close cooperation with the ship owner, the charterer and us. We inspected and prepared all equipment ahead of time to avoid unnecessary delays."
Because of meticulous advance planning, G.C. Maritime was able to complete all five tests in just 18 hours, allowing the vessel to return to work six hours earlier than the superintendent’s original projection.
Mr Haneveld added: "We minimize the customer’s costs by creating the most efficient time frame, and because we supply a full staff, there is little involvement of the vessel’s own crew."
G.C. Maritime provides offshore operators and shipping customers with the speediest possible service by operating service hubs in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Orleans, Vancouver, Nassau and its home base in Houston.
Since beginning business in 2003 by providing service on marine diesel engines, company president Dieter Liebich, a master mariner and mechanical engineer, has grown the business to include inspections on lifeboats and davits, general ship repair, sale of spare parts and LSA equipment, crew training, service on marine and offshore cranes, and technical consultation.
For more information about this topic, email info@gc-maritime.com.