UK-based crane manufacturer Granada Material Handling has won a contract from offshore engineering firm Sembmarine SLP Ltd to manufacture, deliver and commission two davit cranes for the Siemens transmission and distribution platform at the 402MW Dudgeon offshore wind farm.

The Granada ‘Python’ cranes, which will be fitted to the cable deck area of the distribution platform, have been specifically designed for the Dudgeon project. Each unit is about 4m high, has a 4m radius and weighs 1,000kg.

Granada says that a lifting capacity of 1,000kg is needed to hoist the heavier components from the supply vessel to the lay-down area on the transmission platform.

The company is already looking to place specialist sub-contract work with other UK businesses; it will deliver the crane units over a six-month period.

Company director Mark Sidwell said: “Securing this contract has been a real team effort by the Granada Renewable division. We are currently working with designers, wind farm developers and turbine manufacturers to further enhance the product range to ensure that the very latest developments in lifting technology are made available to the rapidly expanding and ever developing offshore renewable-energy market.”