CNOOC Engineering’s pipelaying vessel \"Lanjiang\" completed a test of the main crane’s lifting capacity, with a maximum load of 4,180 tons

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On December 16, the lifting and pipelaying vessel \"Lanjiang\", owned by CNOOC Engineering, completed its main crane loading test, with a maximum load of 4,180 tons – setting a new record for such tests under complex operational conditions on ships. This achievement lays a solid foundation for future offshore construction activities. The loading test is a crucial step in enabling engineering vessels to obtain inspection certificates issued by classification societies; it serves to assess the safety and stability of the vessel when operating at its rated lifting capacity, and it acts as a gateway for such vessels to enter the market for lifting operations. This lifting test was conducted at the designated anchorage site, with a maximum test load of 4,180 tons. “The “Lanjiang” crane lifted the buoy with the simulated load, gradually increasing the weight of the load from its initial value to the test rated value, and kept it suspended steadily for 5 minutes. All indicators meet the requirements of the classification society. This lifting test was conducted at the designated anchorage site, with a maximum test load of 4,180 tons. “The “Lanjiang” crane lifted the buoy with the simulated load, gradually increasing the weight of the load from its initial value to the test rated value, and kept it suspended steadily for 5 minutes. All indicators meet the requirements of the classification society. The test load reached 1.1 times the crane’s designed rating, posing severe challenges to the ship’s lifting system, structural strength, and dynamic stability. At the same time, unlike previous docking tests at ports, anchor ground operations are carried out in open waters, where they are significantly affected by wind and waves as well as water currents, making it difficult to position the ship. To address this, the “Lanjiang” ship’s crew conducted preliminary tests on the main generator load, ballast system, inclination, and other related aspects to ensure the ship was in optimal condition. The task team accurately calculates the tension of the anchor cables and changes in the ship’s draft, achieving a positioning accuracy of several centimeters even in windy and wavey conditions ； A digital stress monitoring system is used to collect and analyze real-time data from key components such as the crane jib and the ship’s structure, ensuring the stable operation of all systems. “The “Lanjiang” vessel is capable of laying submarine pipelines with diameters ranging from 4.5 inches to 48 inches in conditions of wind speeds of level 7 and water depths of 150 meters. Since its deployment in 2001, it has laid approximately 485 kilometers of submarine pipelines, involving a total lifting capacity of over 2 million tons. The lifting test conducted at the anchorage site using the “Lanjiang” vessel has fully demonstrated the ship’s excellent performance and accumulated experience in lifting operations in complex sea areas, providing strong support for further enhancing China’s capabilities in installing offshore oil and gas equipment