Another large benefit of using a bearing is a very significant weight saving. The use of bearings on the new 10,000mt Heerema cranes instead of the traditional slew systems allows for very accurate control of the slewing motion of the crane and requires very little maintenance.
This technique represents a step change in the crane industry, and was previously used successfully on the 5,000mt Offshore Mast Crane for the ‘Seven Borealis’ and the 4,000mt Offshore Mast Crane for Heerema’s ‘Aegir”.
Unlike traditional Tub Cranes which make use of either bogies or large wheels for their slew system, the Huisman cranes will make use of large bearings of own design which are manufactured in-house.