Strategically placed for daily, but varied lifting, two Terex SK 415 hammerhead tower cranes are integral to the operations of a family-owned shipyard in Charleston, S.C. The Detyens Shipyards specializes in repair, refurbishment and conversion of a balanced mix of government-owned and commercial vessels from the United States and abroad. The size of vessels—including dredgers, barges, container carriers, tankers, and cruise ships—has steadily increased over recent years.
Detyens has adapted to changing trends by offering ship owners a quality infrastructure with the ability to handle vessels of much larger dimensions. The acquisition of two Terex SK 415-20 hammerhead tower cranes a year ago has played an essential part in successfully meeting the challenge.
As Loy Stewart, president of Detyens Shipyards explains: “Today’s vessels are very much larger than those that we have traditionally been accustomed to working on. The height, capacity, and reach of our Terex SK 415 cranes allow us to reach the ships’ extremes while enabling our operators to see exactly what they are doing, which is paramount to efficiency and safety.”
Heavy workloads means the cranes are in constant use. Set up with a 197-foot jib and 150- and 189-foot under hook heights, the cranes are used individually at strategic locations servicing the pier for alongside repairs, and two dry docks from a fixed location. Operated to place and remove supplies and equipment, the weight of the loads lifted varies enormously.
“Our SK 415s are very quick and efficient, which is just what we need in our busy job where timing really counts. Their smooth controls, visibility, and comfort are a great benefit to our riggers and operators in the precision and safety of operations. They are also much happier in their jobs and less fatigued at the end of the day,” remarks Stewart. The importance of safety to the company is evident in the “Safest Shipyard” award the company has won on five occasions from the Shipbuilders Council of America. It most recently received the award in 2010.
In comparison to other cranes used by the company, the Terex SK 415 has also proved to be an economical model to run. “Our gantry cranes are diesel-electric and burn a considerable amount of fuel,” says Stewart. “The SK 415s are electric which makes them a lot cheaper to operate.”
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
