The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA’s) ‘Guidelines for lifting operations’ (IMCA LR 006) has been reviewed and updated to ensure that it properly covers all elements of lifting operations in renewable energy sector contracting activities.
Offshore wind involves an ever-increasing number of its members; and so, an expert work group has reviewed IMCA LR 006 and made a number of additions and amendments. One change is the revision of Appendix A4 ‘Lifting of Offshore Wind Turbine Components’. It now provides information and guidance regarding the potential issues which can be encountered when performing repetitive lifts of wind turbine components at height, with sub-sections on safety considerations when lifting nacelles, blades and towers; possible issues when lifting components at height; dynamics and associated special lifting tools; and spooling issues.Other amendments and additions include:
- Amendments to the personnel section bringing it into alignment with offshore wind terminology
- A minor modification to the lift categorisation flow chart
- New example rigging templates that show the rigging for a monopile and a transition piece
- Information on the use of guide poles as an alternative to tag lines