Defying the storms to avoid delays

In 2011, Mammoet was contracted to push up an offshore deck at its fabrication site in South Korea. The 23,178-ton deck had to be raised to a height of 26.5 meters – a world record lift in itself.

But the push-up was also scheduled close to the end of the typhoon season. Fifteen push-up towers and an additional bracing system were brought in to safely lift the deck while maintaining enough durability to survive a typhoon storm. In doing so, Mammoet essentially extended the available weather window.

The typhoon season threw down an extra big challenge for this project. One late storm and the entire operation and everyone involved could be in danger. To be on the safe side, Mammoet developed a special lifting system able to withstand wind speeds of up to 30 m/s – enough to ride out any storm nature might throw at it.

Gearing up against the elements, Mammoet mobilized fifteen push-up towers and developed additional jacking cans and bracing pipes. A total of 155 containers of equipment were shipped in from all over the world.

In a joint effort between Mammoet Malaysia, Singapore and Holland, the 2,400-ton push-up system was assembled next to the deck and skidded into position. After lifting the platform off of its construction supports, it was jacked to a 12-meter height. From that position, a round-the-clock operation of jacking and bracing began.

After seven days, the deck was safely placed onto the deck support frame. By creating a weatherproof push-up system, Mammoet bought deck owner, Woodside, more time to get the job done. In the process, this project made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the heaviest lift on land.