Jackets are lifted over the stern of Pieter Schelte, for which the vessel is repositioned. After cuts have been made in the foundation piles of the jacket at seabed level, or above the pile clusters as required, the tilting lift beams raise the jacket at the top of the main legs, preferably using quick-connect lifting tools. The jacket is rotated onto the vessel deck by the tilting lift beams, after which it is skidded further inboard.
The single-piece jacket lift method eliminates the need for cutting work at intermediate jacket elevations, and dangerous hooking operations underwater.
Strength analyses for typical jacket types have shown that their integrity is guaranteed during lifting, rotation, skidding, transportation and off-loading by Pieter Schelte with no, or a minimum of, local reinforcements.
Jacket removal can be performed immediately after the topsides have been removed, without first requiring the vessel to offload the topsides.
Besides jackets, the tilting lift beams can lift items such as bridges, tripods, modules or even small topsides, and place them on the vessel deck or a cargo barge.
