Parkburn Attends MacGregor FibreTrac 1500 Crane Demonstration

Parkburn Precision Handling Systems, a specialist UK engineering company which provides onshore and offshore handling systems, attended MacGregor’s launch of the FibreTrac 1500 Crane in Norway on the 13th and 14th of February.  The event was a major milestone for Parkburn’s Deep Water Capstan (DWC) - the key technology behind the FibreTrac Crane.

The FibreTrac Crane’s use of fibre rope means the crane can deliver the maximum surface payload to any depth. In other words, you no longer need to have a 250t crane to deploy a 150t payload to 3,000m. “smaller crane larger payload to depth” This fact alone results in many financial advantages to operators.

The market launch followed extensive testing which started in October 2018.  The FibreTrac Crane and its technology are approved under DNV GL’s ST-0378 ‘Standard for Offshore and Platform Lifting Appliances’ and is soon to complete the newly developed standard ST-E407 ‘Rope Based Deployment and Recovery Systems for Designated Service.’

Deep Water Capstan - Designed, Developed and Tested by Parkburn

The first full-size DWC, built in 2012, was a 75t demonstration unit.  This DWC completed an extensive test, evaluation and qualification programme which proved the technology.

Parkburn’s relationship with MacGregor originated in 2016 when Parkburn addressed the need to build strong partnerships to commercialise the DWC and MacGregor recognised the potential of fibre-rope cranes.  The collaboration resulted in the FibreTrac 1500, a 150t active heave compensated offshore MacGregor crane equipped with Parkburn’s Deep Water Capstan. The crane also featured Lankhorst’s LankoDeep® rope made with Dyneema® DM20 XBO technology, terminations from Applied Fiber and a 3D measuring system for continuous rope monitoring from VisionTek Engineering.

Parkburn’s Sam Bull, commented on the occasion: “This event would have not been possible if it were not for the efforts and dedication of many within our small company including the directors who have continued to invest in this technology to see this project through.”

The Outcome

Over 40 potential customers including ship owners and contractors were in attendance. In a comment by Høye G. Høyesen, Vice President Advanced Offshore Solutions MacGregor Norway: “We have received a lot of positive feedback today.  Several of our customers are considering fibre rope cranes.” On a final note, Director of Parkburn Andy Lawson commented: “We firmly believe in the market progression towards ultra-deep water and the DWC is the first step in having a range of product solutions for all requirements in this sector.”