Breman launches innovative chain crane for offshore wind turbines

General – Chain Crane Innovation

The Breman Group, with its headquarters in Genemuiden, the Netherlands, is proud to present an innovative high-speed chain-driven davit crane combined with a self-engaging crane hook, called Eye Catcher.

To lift loads or sensitive goods quickly, efficiently, and safely, the standard capacity of this high-quality Chain Crane is 1 tonne at a radius of 3.5 metres. A Chain Crane capable of lifting up to 3 metric tonnes can also be supplied on request.

This unique logistic concept for offshore wind turbine maintenance combines innovation and quality in a robust, reliable, and easy-to-operate design. The Chain Crane can be supplied with a heave compensation mode and follows the vertical movements of a sensor on the maintenance vessel.

Compact dimensions and a lifting height of up to 30 metres are standard, including a super simple remote control, consisting of just four buttons; up, down, light, and emergency stop. 

The Eye Catcher is a remote-controlled crane hook that mechanically latches onto a standard lifting eye. The load can only be released when the wireless remote control is activated and the hook is unloaded. The colour of the tool indicates its status; green indicates that the lifting eye is present and the hook is secured, while blue signals an open hook so the Eye Catcher can be safely lifted off.

Typically, a chain hoist is situated at the tip of a crane, rendering it susceptible to external factors such as weather, wind, salt deposits, and bird excrements. Breman has ingeniously excluded this disadvantage by enclosing the electrical chain drive system inside the metal crane housing. An innovative patented chain loop ensures immediate chain run out, allowing the hook to move promptly upon motor activation.

Breman has already supplied more than 100 chain-driven davit cranes for wind turbines installed in the Dutch IJsselmeer. Arjan Boezeman, Managing Director of Breman Innovations – part of the Breman Group – explains: “At the request of our customers, we started working on the development of a chain crane, applicable in an offshore environment with high waves. This required two innovations: our patented chain loop, and the high-speed chain drive system needed to move the hook at one metre per second. Finally, there was our ingenuity to combine these innovations into the housing of one robust Chain Crane.”

According to Breman, there is considerable interest in the Chain Crane, whose lifetime is as long as that of a turbine. A prototype of the crane has already been demonstrated to a large number of potential customers from both the international wind and oil and gas industries. Especially the simplicity and robustness of the concept are catching on very well.

Interest in the Eye Catcher is also promising. The big advantage of this remote-controlled crane hook is that, in combination with the Chain Crane, it can pick up a load from the deck of an SOV without the help of human hands. The same applies to moving a load from a turbine platform to the deck of an SOV.  

To operate all the Chain Cranes on a wind farm, only one unit of the Eye Catcher is needed.

Original Source: https://ocean-energyresources.com/2024/08/24/breman-launches-innovative-chain-crane-for-offshore-wind-turbines/