The burgeoning demand for renewable energy sources has fueled the adoption of Modulift’s innovative spreader beams in wind energy projects globally. In a recent development, G2 Ocean, a prominent global ship operator, utilized a Modulift Spreader Beam to hoist a substantial 63-metric-ton Nordex Wind Tower in Colombia.
Colombia, known for its favorable wind conditions with wind forces reaching around 9 meters per second, is an attractive location for wind power generation. To address the challenges of this remote region, G2 Ocean assembled a MOD 250 Spreader Beam on-site in northern Colombia, close to the Caribbean coast, where most wind farms are situated.
The operation involved successfully lifting the cylindrical Nordex TS105 wind tower sections from the Star Lysefjord vessel to Puerto Brisa, a modest cargo terminal in the northern region. Richard Stannard, Senior Equipment Manager at G2 Ocean, highlighted the difficulties posed by the port’s remote location and lack of infrastructure, along with the urgency of the project.
The logistics presented an array of challenges. Initially, the nearest port, Santa Marta, faced road transport issues to the project site, particularly clearance concerns under bridges. Puerto Brisa emerged as the alternative, but it was primarily a coal loading facility without available cranes.
To surmount these obstacles, G2 Ocean ingeniously utilized the ship’s onboard cranes to execute the lift. The Nordex TS105 tower sections, measuring 36 meters in length, with a diameter of 4.3 meters and a weight of approximately 63 metric tons, were strategically loaded and unloaded using the ship’s cranes, overcoming varying weight distribution challenges. The crane with a capacity of 75 metric tons was used to handle the upper sections, with a further constraint of limited headroom, necessitating shorter rigging. The MOD250 Spreader Beam, with an 18-meter reach, a Safe Working Load (SWL) of 91 metric tons, and a 45-degree sling angle, was meticulously configured for the task.
An additional advantage that expedited the project was the modular design of the spreader beam. The longest strut was just 6 meters in length, and the total component weight was 4 metric tons, allowing G2 Ocean to airfreight the beam to Colombia, transport it efficiently by road, and assemble it with ease on-site.
Sarah Spivey, Managing Director of Modulift said “With the surge in demand for renewable energy sources, Modulift is well positioned to respond quickly to the growing demand. With a global network of stock-holding distributors, we can deliver spreader beams on-site, quickly. G2 Ocean’s project presented several challenges which Modulift was able to help overcome. The modular design allowed for easy transportation, and the lack of headroom was not an issue as the rigging was able to be short. We were pleased G2 Ocean could deliver on this project safely and efficiently with the help of our products.”
