4 April 2008. MAN Diesel’s Shanghai organisation has successfully landed another engine contract in the specialised segment for large floating cranes and construction barges. 

A newly designed (DLV4400) heavy-lift floating crane from Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co Ltd (ZPMC) with a 4,400 ton lifting capacity will be powered by 7 x MAN Diesel 9L32/40 GenSets. The total installed output of 31.5 MW will supply propulsion power, power for manoeuvring, for the crane activities, and to the hotel accommodation load for 250 persons. The vessel, which is designed to propel itself at up to 12 knots in trial condition, will also be equipped with a dynamic positioning system classed GL DynPos–AutR. The propulsors specified are 2 x 2,000 kW tunnel thrusters at the bow of the vessel, 2 x 2,500 kW retractable azimuth thrusters at the foreship, and 2 x 4,500 kW azimuth thrusters at the aftship. On the deck, the vessel will have a helicopter platform situated at the forecastle deck, and the full revolving main crane will be installed in the after area of deck. The hull for the DLV 4400 is expected to be built by a not yet disclosed Chinese yard, however, with the final outfitting and mounting of crane equipment performed at ZPMC’s own shipyard at Changxin Island.

Principal particulars, Floating Crane - DLV4400
Loa 174.80 m
Lpp 165.00 m
Breath moulded 48.00 m
Draft moulded 15.00 m
Crane lifting draught 8.00~10.00 m
Pipe laying draught 7.00~8.00 m
Navigation draught ~6.60 m
Speed 11.5 kn
Accommodation 250 persons
Navigation area unrestricted navigation Self-sustaining 60 days
Crane capacity: Boom length - main hook 80 m
Aux.#1hook 95 m
Aux.#2hook 105 m
Hook capacity
Main hook slewing 3,000 tons × 30 m
Main hook fixed 4,400 tons × 37 m
Aux#1hook 550 tons × 95 m
Aux#2hook 100tons × 109 m

Mr. Zhou Ming Li, Senior Sales Manager for Offshore Business, reports from Shanghai that this record-breaking floating crane will support the still growing offshore oil and gas exploration activities in Chinese waters. Mr. Ming Li continues: “Additionally, the ZPMC organisation has in their portfolio several floating cranes. For Asia, the to date largest revolving floating crane in operation, also designed and manufactured by ZPMC, is a (DLV4000) unit with a lifting capacity of 4,000 ton. The latest repeat order for this type of floating crane is powered by a package of MAN Diesel GenSets, here consisting of 3 x 6L32/40 and 2 x 7L23/30. This vessel’s basic construction will be carried out by the Jiangsu Eastern Shipyard. 

In contrast to the larger 4,400 ton crane, the 4,000 ton floating crane is not self-propelled and self-navigated, but will be tugged and navigated to unlimited voyage and working zones, where it will be positioned by thrusters and anchor winches. The MAN Diesel engines for both floating cranes are packaged with alternators from ABB, and manufactured by the South Korean MAN Diesel licensee, STX Corporation. 

About ZPMC
Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co Ltd (ZPMC) is a world-famous manufacturer of cranes and large steel structures. Its main products include quayside container cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), bulk-material ship loaders and unloaders, bucket-wheel stackers and reclaimers, portal cranes, floating cranes engineering vessels and large steel bridge structures. ZPMC is the only large crane manufacturer in the world that owns vessels for transportation.

Captions:
Graphic impression: ZPMC’s new large DLV 4400 floating crane with a lifting capacity of 4,400 ton

Two photos: The DLV4000 floating crane performing its trial lifting test of 4,000 ton at sea and at quayside