«Steel Giant» got a helping hand from Farmar Aton

Text: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

When Pioneering Spirit arrived in Kristiansand, it came as no surprise that the ship had to remain anchored offshore.

With its colossal dimensions – 382 metres long and 124 metres wide – the vessel is far too large to dock at the quay.

TO ENSURE supplies and equipment replacement, all logistics had to be handled on the water. That’s where Farmar Aton came to the rescue. The 32-metre-long and 14-metre-wide crane vessel carried out so-called “cargo runs” – operations where containers with provisions, spare parts and technical equipment are transported between shore and ship.

“We’ve handled both the loading of new equipment and supplies, as well as transporting containers back to land. Such operations demand precision and close coordination with the crew on board,” says Farmar’s Managing Director, John W. Nilsen.

FARMAR ATON is purpose-built for this kind of work. The vessel is equipped with four cranes, dynamic positioning (DP) and a cargo capacity of 200 tonnes. This allows it to maintain exact position without anchoring – and to operate safely alongside giant vessels such as Pioneering Spirit.

“Aton is an extremely versatile vessel. It’s used in the archipelago, for cable-laying and for heavy marine operations. This assignment clearly shows its flexibility,” Nilsen says.

WHEN FACED with Pioneering Spirit – a floating steel mountain the size of an aircraft carrier – Aton appeared tiny beside the giant.

Yet it was precisely the small barge’s agility and precision that made the operation possible.

Owned by Swiss company Allseas, Pioneering Spirit is an engineering marvel. With a lifting capacity of more than 48,000 tonnes, it can install or remove entire platform topsides in a single operation.

This time, it was Farmar Aton that ensured the giant received everything it needed to continue its mission.

A small vessel playing a big role alongside the world’s largest lifting ship.