During 2006 St. Maarten Shipyard, located in the Caribbean, will complete a modernisation programme, which will expand the facilities into a top class mega yacht repair yard. The new facilities will comprise a Syncrolift and a new ship transfer system from Norwegian-based TTS Handling Systems.
This new TTS transfer system - PWT (Powered Wheel Transporter) is a development from TTS, based on the DWB (Dual Walking Beam) transfer system, which has been used in shipyards throughout the world since 1980. The DWB system is a non-wheel transfer system that can move heavy loads around the yard, without the need of rails or roads, and position ship sections within millimetre accuracy.
The development of the PWT90 transfer system has been sponsored by Innovation Norway and developed by TTS Handling Systems. The PWT system runs on rubber wheels and will therefore have a higher transport speed.
St. Maarten Shipyard has purchased 10 units of the PWT90 system, with an option of four more. Each PWT90 unit lifts and moves 90 tons on six axels, and is fitted with its own hydraulic power pack and programmable logic controller. One operator co-ordinates the system from a central control unit on a diesel electric generator following the system. This will enable St. Maarten Shipyard to dock and repair mega yachts of approximately 60-70m in length and 850 dwt.
Mega yachts will be docked on cradles parked on the Syncrolift. When the Syncrolift has lifted the vessel out of the water to land level, the PWT90 transfer system is positioned under the cradles, the cradles and vessel is then lifted and transferred to a dry berth where repair work can be carried out. The PWT transfer system can move the vessel in any direction and rotate the vessel for suitable positioning.
Compared with the big transporters on the market the PWT transfer system is more flexible and gives the yard better access to the yacht’s hull.
The cradles can be of standard type or tailor-made for the shipyard, dependent of the keel height and docking conditions. The cradles can also be equipped with hydraulic-operated bilge arms for stabilising the vessel during docking.
The yard will only use necessary cradles, dependant upon the size of the vessel. When parked on a dry berth, each cradle can be moved under the vessel to give the yard 100% access to the hull.
TTS has great belief in this new PWT transfer system, and are expecting more orders for the system in the near future.
For more details contact:
Rolf-Atle Tomassen, Sales & Marketing Director
TTS Handling Systems AS
Tel: + 47 64 90 79 24
Email: rat@tts-hs.no