Barge Master
Mastering Barge Movement Compared to a jack-up platform, a standard crawler crane placed on a standard barge is a lot cheaper. The barge and crane configuration, however, typically has a very limited operational weather window. The issue of limited operational weather windows is also prevalent when using Platform Supply Vessels (PSV). For flat top barges, a significant wave height of only 30 cms already causes large swings at the top of the crane boom making working dangerous. Now, thanks to a Dutch invention called the Barge Master, both onboard safety and the operational weather window of standard barges are significantly increased. The same applies to the weather window of Feeder Vessels when the vessel is equipped with a Barge Master.
Two years ago Barge Master, in cooperation with Bosch Rexroth, developed the system. The system is now in production and will be ready for operation in July 2012. The man who made Mammoet world famous by lifting the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, Frans van Seumeren, has taken a significant share in the new company. The other shareholders are the founders and directors of the company, Martijn Koppert (38) and Jan Paul van den Bos (39). Frans van Seumeren is also the chairman of the Barge Master Supervisory Board.
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2011