Jacket Flange Lifting Tool – TPC II

Innovative equipment design and load test setup 

TWD was commissioned by Shinfox Far East (SFE) to design a jacket flange lifting tool (JFLT) for the TPC Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Taiwan. The JFLT, with a 3000t WLL, is specifically engineered to lift jackets, which are foundational structures for offshore wind turbine generators (WTGs). 

The innovative JFLT design features three rotating clamps that securely attach under the jacket’s flange serving as the lifting interface. These clamps mechanically lock during lifting, significantly reducing operational risks. The clamps are connected to a Y-shaped spreader beam, which is equipped with a tugger frame for precise rotation and a catcher for accurate placement. Additionally, a dedicated transport frame was developed to serve both as storage for the tool and as a mock-up to test its dimensions, mirroring the jacket parts it interacts with. To ensure safety and reliability, two load test setups were designed to validate the load-bearing capacity of the clamps and spreader beam. 

One particular design challenge was ensuring accurate tool placement without causing damage. TWD addressed this by integrating a catcher on the spreader beam and a guide frame that mounts on the tool’s destination. Additionally, landing feet and guides were included to control the final stages of the landing sequence. 

In the early stage of the project, TWD assisted the developer, Shinfox, with a flange integrity analysis. This resulted in recommendations to adjust flange dimensions, to enable lifting the jackets with a relatively simple flange lifting tool. 

The project was a success, marked by transparent and direct communication with SFE. Their high level of involvement was crucial in achieving a positive outcome. 

Project highlights: 

• Innovative design featuring rotating clamps 

• Integrated catcher on the spreader beam 

• Dedicated transport frame