On August 5, at the CNOOC Engineering Zhuhai Deepwater Equipment Manufacturing Base, Zoomlion’s ZCC89000 ultra-large crawler crane successfully completed the first lift of the JK1 jacket foundation base section for the Inch Cape offshore wind power project in Europe. The operation set a new steel structure lifting weight record at the base, surpassing the previous benchmark held by the “Hai Ji Er Hao” project.
The lifted jacket substructure measures approximately 47 meters in length and 35 meters in height, with a total weight of 1,347 tons—equivalent to nearly 1,000 passenger vehicles. To accomplish this complex task, the project team adopted a coordinated “main lift + dual auxiliary lift” solution. The ZCC89000, a 4,000-ton-class crawler crane, was deployed as the core main crane and bore the primary load during the operation.
Ultra-Large Lifting with Precision and Stability
As the main lifting equipment, the ZCC89000 operated under superlift counterweight conditions, demonstrating exceptional stability and wind resistance during the lifting of ultra-large structures. These capabilities significantly enhanced operational safety. In addition, the crane’s intelligent coordinated control system improved precision throughout the lifting process, ensuring accurate positioning of the jacket foundation.
Working in close coordination with two additional crawler cranes, the lifting operation was completed after three hours of highly controlled execution, achieving millimeter-level accuracy. Final positioning deviation was strictly controlled within ±3 millimeters.
Dynamic load balancing among the three cranes was achieved through precise coordination, supported by BeiDou satellite positioning for real-time spatial tracking and a hydraulic synchronous control system with millisecond-level response. This integrated lifting system exemplified the powerful combination of heavy equipment engineering and advanced intelligent control technologies.
Supporting Europe’s Offshore Wind Expansion
The Inch Cape offshore wind project is located in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland and has a planned installed capacity of 1.08 GW. The project will deploy 72 Vestas V236-15.0 MW offshore wind turbines, with the wind farm situated approximately 15 kilometers from the coast of Dundee. Once fully commissioned, the project is expected to supply electricity to more than half of Scotland’s households.
The successful completion of this lift represents a major technological and execution milestone for CNOOC Engineering and provides valuable experience for future offshore wind projects. Upon full operation, the project will contribute significantly to global energy transition efforts, carbon emission reduction, and the development of the renewable energy industry.
Looking ahead, Zoomlion will continue to advance in the field of heavy equipment manufacturing, using technological innovation as a driving force to push the performance boundaries of ultra-large lifting equipment. With continued focus on intelligence, efficiency, and sustainability, Zoomlion aims to support global energy structure transformation and the achievement of dual-carbon goals—writing a new chapter in green development through cutting-edge engineering technology.
