Milestone reached in Optara project

Lift service provider Aertssen Kranen and heavy lift and specialized transport service provider ALE have finished installing the main fractionators at the Optara project in Antwerp, Belgium.

The Optara project forms part of a €1 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) investment from Total at the refining and petrochemical complex in Antwerp. Work at the site will include the construction of a new unit and the conversion of an existing unit, a spokesperson said.

The main fractionators weighed 250 tonnes and measured 57 metres long and had a diameter of 10 m. It was moved to position using 32 axle lines of self propelled modular transporter (SPMT). Once in position, a 650 tonne capacity Terex Superlift 3800 crawler crane was used to lift and install the fractionators. A 280 tonne Hitachi SCX2800-2 crawler crane was used as a tailing crane.