In the launch presentation Mr. Rob Eijkens, Dieseko’ s Technical Manager Offshore, explained some major design prerequisites that led to today’s finished product. For those who were not there: this enormous vibro hammer, modularly constructed, has a capacity of 1.000 to 3.000 kgm. With patented solutions pending, it is fully certified and ready to install XXL monopiles.
Impression of the GIANT set-up at the terminal
Some Q&As mentioned in the presentation
Is the GIANT fully certified?
Working safely was the first prerequisite. As expected, the Giant passed the load test according to DNVGL-ST-0378 (Offshore and platform lifting appliances) on 6 April 2023. The load test was set at a line pull of 2000 tonnes.
Is the GIANT one integrated construction?
The GIANT is built modular, this means that the majority of parts can be reused for a larger or smaller configurations. Dieseko has succeeded in designing a reusable gearbox, clamp, and static frame.
How to overcome pile tolerances?
Due to its high self-weight, the monopile deforms during horizontal storage and handling to a more oval shape; when the Giant upends the pile, the pile shape changes somewhat and finally returns to its spherical shape when fully upend,ed resulting significant extra pile load introductions. The clamps can cope and release these extra loads by releasing and locking the clamps from the guiding rails after the upending by engaging the so-called hydro-lock system.
How to handle four heavy packages of hoses, transporting 12.800L flow at a maximum of 350 bar?
Dieseko redesigned the classic hose handling geometry. The newly engineered hose guidance eliminates the hoses to be moving while upending the hammer. This results in always the same relative position of the hoses under all circumstances, a significant advantage.
The static arm is a unique element in the design and accommodates the elastomers. Why is that?
The static arm will always be vertical when upending and installing a monopile. So the elastomers are always loaded in the vertical plane. The number of elastomers can be used to modify the spring properties of a GIANT, taking soil profiles and different pile weights into account. They are loaded in cartridges that can be easily inserted and extracted.
Rob Eijkens
Technical Manager Offshore