J3675 : The "Merchantman", Belfast - October 2016(1)
taken 7 years ago, 3 km from Belfast, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland
The “Svanen” is a 102 metre/13,608 gross tonnes heavy lift installation vessel built in 1991 Link.
It visited Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 2016. A H&W press release of 12 August 2016 includes the following “After installing the final wind turbine foundation at Burbo Bank Extension wind farm in Liverpool Bay, Van Oord's HLV Svanen received a warm welcome in Belfast as it moored at Harland and Wolff's Commissioning Quay. The sheerleg catamaran is to undergo repairs and outfitting at the well known shipyard, ahead of its next contract. The latest addition to the Harbour skyline, this 1990-built heavy lift installation vessel is taller than H&W's gantry crane Samson, which stands at 106m from the rails. Svanen has an impressive maximum lift capacity of 8,700 tonnes (excluding rigging; 8,200 tonnes including rigging). To put this into perspective, the metal structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs 7,300 tonnes!”.
The photographs submitted by me appear as a matter of record only. I have no connection with the owners, Harland & Wolff or Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
On 8 October 2016 it shifted, from the Commissioning Quay to the Ship Repair Quay, with assistance from the tugs “Merchantman” and “Masterman”.
This description also includes some photographs from a visit in 2017