Vessel / Rig: Bourbon Evolution 805 and Surfer 324 Offloadi
Date: November 2014 | Project Duration: 2 Weeks
This special project involved two Bourbon vessels, the Bourbon Evolution 805, a multipurpose subsea services support vessel, and the Bourbon Surfer 324, a high speed crew boat. Both vessels had sustained significant damage back in 2012 when a Monsoon had hit the east coast of Asia.
Following repairs, the Bourbon Surfer 324 was loaded onto the larger Bourbon Evolution 805 in Singapore. The Evolution then sailed to Namibia with the Surfer on deck, as it is much more cost effective to sail just one vessel rather than two. Logistics Support Services acted as full Vessel Agency for both vessels for the entire mobilisation process, including a crane test on the Evolution 805, offloading the Surfer 324 from the deck, providing technical supplies, fuelling, equipment testing and crew changes.
The Evolution 805 was brought into Berth number one at Namport in preparation for one of the largest heavy lifts that has taken place in Walvis Bay. Two 140 ton Mantis cranes were provided from Namport to conduct a tandem lift on the Surfer 324 which weighs in at 120 tons. All rigging and equipment had been supplied with the vessel when it had been loaded onto the Evolution 805 in Singapore. Namibia Stevedoring Services performed the hook up of the two cranes to the 34.33 metre vessel, hooking up the straps and making sure they were in the designated position. The cranes then slowly started taking tension on the straps to make sure that all the rigging was in the correct position to optimally perform the lift.
The ship’s crew, together with Namibia Stevedoring Services, then unsecured all the sea fasting on the Surfer 324, so that the cranes could start slowly picking up the Surfer 324, ensuring that the vessel was lifted off the cradle cleanly. The crew boat was then lifted to approximately three metres above the deck of the Evolution 805, and then the pilot was instructed to remove the larger vessel from the berth, leaving the Surfer 324 suspended on the cranes.
Whilst the Evolution 805 was relocated to Berth number eight, the Surfer 324 was lowered back into the water. The rigging was kept under tension, however, in order to ensure that the vessel wasn’t leaking in the areas where she had been resting on the cradle. Only once the vessel had been thoroughly checked, the rigging straps were removed along with the wooden blocks which had been placed under the vessel to prevent hull damage.
The Surfer 324 was then moved alongside her big sister in Berth number eight so she could be crewed, resupplied and fuelled in preparation for the Evolution 805 to tow the Surfer 324 towards their first charter in West Africa.
