Huisman secures order for Japan's first monopile gripper

Offshore staff

SCHIEDAM, The Netherlands — Huisman has been awarded a contract by TOA Corp. and Obayashi in Japan for the delivery of a monopile gripper.

The gripper allows TOA and Obayashi to upend and install monopiles without using a separate upending bucket, which is designed to improve safety and efficiency of operations on board.

The monopile gripper will be the first of its kind to be used in Japan, according to Huisman. The gripper will be installed on TOA and Obayashi’s self-elevating platform (SEP), which is outfitted with a 1,250-mt Huisman Pedestal Mounted Crane. 

The gripper will be capable of handling monopiles of up to 8 m in diameter, fully utilizing the capacity of the platform. Huisman said it has paid special attention to optimizing the upending process, in which the gripper and crane control software communicate with each other to ensure the system as a whole operates within its limits. 

11.15.2022