Yantai Raffles set for 12,000 ton deckbox lift

China's largest offshore rig builder, Yantai Raffles Shipyard has begun final preparations for the second commercial lift by its 20,000 metric ton crane, Taisun.

Set for Friday, September 25, 2009 the lift will be the mating of the 12,000 ton deckbox to the hull of the SS Pantanal. Using the gigantic crane for the mating offers significant advantages over float over operations and skidding techniques.

The SS Pantanal is the first of two semisubmersibles that Yantai Raffles has contracted to deliver to Brazil's Schahin Group. It is a Friede & Goldman Millennium SA unit equipped for 2,000 m water depth with a DP2 positioning system and will be classed by ABS.

The SS Panital's deckbox was constructed at Haiyang Raffles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yantai Raffles Shipyard Limited established in April 2008. It was successfully loaded out by Yantai Raffles' barge Defu 2 marking the first completion of a project by Haiyang Raffles.

Taisun's General Manager Mr. Niels Haakman says: "This will be the second commercial lift for Taisun and demonstrates the versatility of the concept by installing a deck box never designed to be lifted and of a different design to our previous lift. This will be another important step in confirming Taisun's proven technology and will build further confidence in the market place."