The bow of the FPSO ‘BW Catcher’ became the biggest hull block ever to be moved on wheels in June, when it was loaded onto a barge at Samkang M&T shipyard in Korea by Cometto vehicles.
The 14,750 tonne forward hull block was transported from the fabrication area to a pontoon for transport to Keppel Offshore in Singapore, where it is now undergoing topside integration. The hull had to be wheeled rather than floated because the pontoon was at a 90˚ angle to the fabrication area. A fleet of 54 Cometto EVO2 self-propelled electronic modular trailers (MSPEs) were used to turn and load the hull.
The total gross weight of the transport, including MSPEs and support saddles, was approximately 16,340 tonnes. With the 324 axle lines offering a total lifting capacity of 19,440 tonnes, powered by 12 generators of 335kW each, the trailer set up offered a wide margin of safety for the load.
The tender for the transport was won by Korean logistics company KCTC, which subcontracted the work to three Cometto customers, Anjeon, Dae Myung and Global. Each of the sub-contractors provided 18 six-axle Cometto EVO2 MPSEs to complete the work, with Cometto personnel on-site during the transport.
Cometto’s vehicles more usually provide support for ro-ro and heavy cargo operations as well as heavy shipyard work. The EVO2 features high frame capacity, air inflated tubeless tyres, and dual-link suspension which enables them to support a wide range of payloads and configurations. Earlier this year Cometto launched a new series of MPSEs, the EVO3, with electronic steering and a greater axle load capacity of 70 tonnes.
Source: http://www.motorship.com/news101/ships-and-shipyards/fpso-hull-on-wheels-at-samkang-m-and-t