HLC-installation near to completion: Heavy Lift Crane HLC 295000 reaches next milestone

The next milestone for the largest crane ever built by Liebherr has been fulfilled. The 145 meter long boom was connected successfully to the cranes slewing unit. “This is the first time Liebherr has manufactured and installed a crane of this size. We expected a lot of exciting challenges, which our specialists were eager to solve”, says Leopold Berthold, Managing Director of Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH, “the challenging installation processes went smooth due to the remarkable job done by the involved employees.” All major crane elements have been installed on the Orion, the next generation offshore installation vessel which will operate the HLC in the future. The Orion, owned by the Belgian DEME Group, has dual-fuel engines and can be driven by conventional fuel or LNG. With the HLC on board as well as a maximized deck space, the vessel offers a unique combination of lifting functionality and loading capacity.

The lifting of the upper slewing column early in the morning was one of the first highlight lifts of the new TCC 78000 when assembling the HLC 295000.

One of the key success factors for the different installation lifts was the new TCC 78000, the Liebherr portal crane at the quayside. The landmark of the Liebherr Rostock plant, visible from afar, was significantly involved in every installation step: Lifting the lower and upper part of the slewing unit, the A-Frame and finally, the boom. All of those lifts were the first major operations of the TCC 78000, which the heavy-duty gantry crane fulfilled with excellence. “The boom was the last large construction element of the HLC that had to be lifted on the Orion”, adds Robert Pitschmann, Sales Project Manager of the HLC 295000, “there are still a few steps to finalize the construction of the crane. We are looking forward to see the HLC in action during its first operation at Moray East Windpark.”

In the early morning, the lift of the foldable A-Frame was realized. The foldability is an innovative mechanism, which reduces the overall height of the ship, so it can pass under bridges and therefore reduces transit times magnificently.

Heavy Lift Cranes with large functional range

With a maximum lifting capacity of 5000 metric tons at an outreach of 35 meters and a maximum lifting height in excess of 175 meters above the deck of the Orion, the HLC 295000 accesses new markets for Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH. The HLC and the expansion of the heavy-duty crane program is anchored in the Liebherr strategy not least because of the energy revolution. Offshore wind turbines become larger and are being built more and more to guarantee sustainable energy provision for current and future generations. To construct these large wind turbines, the unique lifting height of the HLC with up to 175 meters is very important. In addition, there is the trend of decommissioning the offshore oil and gas installations, where large and heavy parts are being dismantled – another task that the HLC products of Liebherr can easily manage due to their lifting capacity of 5000 metric tons. “The decisive factor is the variety of operations that the HLC can cover in combination with its large functional range. Liebherr heavy lift cranes can be used for different lifting situations all around the world”, summarizes Berthold.

Specifications of the HLC 295000

Maximum lifting capacity

• Main hoist: 5000 mt at 35 m outreach
• Fly Jib capacity:
  • 1500 mt at 70 m outreach
  • 200 mt at 151 m outreach

Installed Drive power: 10 x 800 kW

Heavetronic® (AHC) with SWL = 800 t

Auxiliary hoist and tugger winches: 13

Maximum lifting height above deck:

• Main hoist: 135 m
• Auxiliary hoist 1: 165 m
• Auxiliary hoist 2: 175 m