Engineering company Modulift has successfully designed a custom-made subsea beam to retrieve a micro-tunnelling machine from the depths of the sea.
With the bespoke product designed and manufactured by the Dorset-based company’s in-house engineering team, the 50-tonne beam was produced within an eight-week period of receiving the tailored request, fully compliant with the DN -ST-N001 standards.
Designing the beam with eight lifting points, the 6.7 metre beam featured two top lugs, four bottom lugs, with tugger points in place for manoeuvring the beam into the right orientation before lifting.
Using 3D structural analysis in STAAD Pro, Modulift’s engineering team also conducted Finite Element Analysis on the lifting lugs and welds using ANSYS software.
As the beam was going to be sued above and below water, one of the factors the engineering team needed to factor in was the difference in the centre of gravity and weight in the micro-tunnelling machine thanks to the buoyancy force.
Additionally, at the request of their client, the beam needed to meet the stringent DNV industry standards and possess a Dynamic Amplification Factor of 2.0.
Modulift, established in 2002, produces a comprehensive range of lifting and spreader beams, spreader frames and other custom below the hook lifting equipment, that is used across the global lifting industry.
The company regularly supplies their products to sectors such as Renewable Energy, Modular Accommodation, Ports & Marine, Nuclear, Construction, and the Oil and Gas industries.