Load Testing of Pedestal Cranes on Offshore Oil and Gas Installations

As the offshore installations are surrounded by sea, the only means of getting supplies out to them (apart from helicopter) is by barge. Pedestal cranes are used to unload the barges by hoisting the supplies up onto the deck. These cranes are delivered to the offshore construction yard in several parts, made up of the pedestal itself, and the upper component consisting of the cab with the controls, engine compartment, and the jib. Once the crane has been installed and commissioned it must to be tested to SOLAS Regulations before use and this is carried out at the offshore construction yard using a test weight to simulate the proof load test weight. On completion of a successful loadtest a Load Test Certificate is issued.