Foxdrill team completes another successful knuckle boom cylinder replacement

Again, several cylinders on different knuckle boom cranes had to be replaced. However, the conditions on this drillship were very different and presented new challenges. For example, the two knuckle boom cranes at the rear of the drillship could not reach each other. Foxdrill came up with an ingenious rigging solution to lower the cylinders and lift the replacement cylinder without the use of a crane. In addition, the drillship’s drilling operations had to continue uninterrupted, which meant that the knuckle boom cranes had to be out of service for as short a time as possible.

Under these conditions, good consultation and cooperation with the client is essential, and this is where Foxdrill excels. Detailed planning and close coordination with the customer resulted in a knuckle boom crane being out of service for only three days during the cylinder replacement. This contributed significantly to the client’s operational efficiency.

As with all Foxdrill operations, safe and effective execution was paramount on this project. Together with the client, the best approach for the cylinder replacement was carefully considered, both operationally and in terms of safety measures. Once again, the team’s experience of complex offshore rig projects came into play.

Foxdrill’s service goes beyond the preparation and operational execution of such cylinder replacement projects: by working with a specialist cylinder manufacturer and maintenance company, we offer our customers not only technical expertise but also the guarantee of high quality materials and parts.

And so we add another special project to our track record of cylinder replacement on knuckle boom cranes. Since 2019, we have been carrying out these challenging rigging projects both in port environments and offshore. Skilled, efficient and safe. That’s Wagenborg Foxdrill.