A WORKSITE WHERE EVEN THE BUILDINGS CAN BE MOVED ABOUT

A description is given of a slide-pad system used at the Howdon yard, Wallsend, of William Press Production Systems Ltd to assist the movement of large heavy structures, such as oil and gas processing modules (for offshore installations) or sub-structures thereof, during their construction. The completed modules, which may weigh over 2,000 tons, are handled at the quayside by two floating cranes which load them on to barges. The slide-pad system is used for moving completed modules to the quayside and for shifting large sub-structures during module construction; it is also used for the movement of two large (100 by 80 by 80 ft) workshops within the production area (it is sometimes necessary to take the workshop to the work). A set of parallel channels, 3 inches deep, 10 ft apart, and about a foot wide, are crossed at right-angles by a similar set of channels to form a grid or matrix in the piled reinforced- concrete floor of the main production area, which measures 400 ft parallel to the Tyne by 360 ft wide. The channels provide tracks for moving the structures, and their intersections allow 90-deg. changes in direction. When the channels are required for use, their protective steel covers are removed and steel plates faced with PTFE are laid along the bottom. The loads, or the frames or "rafts" on which they are constructed, are supported on the grid by steel PTFE-faced pads spaced at 10-ft intervals and are moved by "Tugmaster" vehicles, with the assistance, where necessary, of sheave blocks. The workshops are temporarily cross-braced between their side walls, and fitted with pads, before they are moved. The grid has service lines for heating, lighting, fume extraction, etc., with convenient outlets at different locations in the yard. It also includes a system of 50 weighing-jacks for the accurate weighing of structures and determination of centres of gravity.

• Corporate Authors:

  Machinery Publishing Company Limited

  New England House, New England Street
  Brighton 1,   England 
• Authors:
  • Marklew, J J
• Publication Date: 1976-10-6

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • Machinery and Production Engineering
  • Volume: 129

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Heavy lift vessels; Lifting equipment; Planning; Production; Production control; Shipyards; Subassemblies
• Old TRIS Terms: Heavy lifts; Shipyard mechanization
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148631
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 23 1977 12:00AM