Palfinger is on a mission to transform the maritime industry through digitalization. The company has achieved a significant milestone by securing a development contract with Aker BP for remotely operated offshore cranes. Building on this success, Palfinger has signed a long-term joint development agreement with Optilift, ensuring exclusive access to their cutting-edge technology beyond the initial project. This milestone was celebrated at Palfinger’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria.
Andreas Klauser, Palfinger s CEO, stated, “With our ‘Go Digital’ strategy, we’re constantly working on smart solutions to enhance customer operations. Partnering with Aker BP and Optilift, industry leaders, allows us to lead in developing autonomous operation solutions.”
Under this partnership, Palfinger and Optilift will collaborate to integrate Optilift’s advanced technology into offshore crane control systems. This collaboration will continue until the product is market-ready, expected alongside production at Aker BP installations in 2027.
The agreement not only covers offshore cranes but also secures exclusivity for Palfinger products in the marine industry, promising further market-leading solutions.
Optilift will explore joint business cases for Palfinger’s serially produced units for land-based applications, expanding their technology’s reach.
Remote-controlled offshore operations are the future, with Optilift’s solutions playing a crucial role. Palfinger s contract with Aker BP involves delivering seven cranes, with five fully remote-operated from an onshore control room. These cranes can transport cargo from supply vessels to offshore platforms autonomously, even in harsh conditions, with minimal maintenance.
To ensure safety, Palfinger conducts rigorous testing, contributing to the development of industry standards.
The first cranes will arrive in 2025, with remote commissioning set between 2026 and 2028. Georg Vidnes, SVP Operations at Aker BP, emphasizes the importance of this advancement, “Our ambition is to bring equipment onto offshore installations with autonomously operated crane systems, ready when personnel arrive. This is an important part of our strategy, made possible through innovation.”
The collaboration between Palfinger and Aker BP, marked by integrated teamwork, will expand to include Optilift. The project aims to not only enhance safety and reduce costs and emissions for Aker BP but to also benefit the global offshore marine and energy industry. Torbjørn Engedal, CEO at Optilift, highlights the potential impact: “We’re taking the lifting industry to the next level through innovative solutions and collaboration with Aker BP and Palfinger.”
