Mammoet, a Dutch heavy lifting and transport company, has unveiled the SK6000, a land-based crane at its Westdorpe facility in the Netherlands.  

The SK6000 is expected to revolutionise large-scale construction projects, enabling the assembly of larger components in parallel. 

Currently undergoing trials at the site, the SK6000 is poised for its inaugural project deployment later this year.  

Mammoet Global Services director Gavin Kerr said: “This crane is truly a world record feat of engineering, with a production schedule to match. Hundreds of colleagues have been directly involved with its development across the business.   

“There are very few companies on Earth - if any - that could have brought this crane into reality, and we are immensely proud to be able to do so”.   

With a lifting capacity of 3,000 tonnes (t) and a maximum height of 220m, the crane intends to ensure the future construction of wind farms, which are currently in the planning stages. 

In the oil and gas industry, the SK6000 is expected to streamline integration times for offshore floating projects and boost uptime for onshore new builds and expansions.  

The crane's capabilities also extend to facilitating modular construction techniques, where components can be crafted off-site globally and then transported for on-site assembly. 

The nuclear sector is claimed to stand to gain from the SK6000's construction methodologies, potentially accelerating project completion and the delivery of low-carbon energy.  

The crane has a maximum capacity of 6,000t and operates with a ground-bearing pressure of 30t per square metre, using 4,200t of ballast for lifting operations. 

Mammoet has engineered the SK6000 for ease of transport, employing containerisation for global deployment via shipping containers.  

Moreover, the crane offers full electric power capabilities, either from batteries or direct grid supply, enabling reductions in the carbon footprint of construction projects, noted the company. 

Last year, Mammoet secured a contract to lift, transport, and install 20 panels of five different types for a new roof structure, over the central area of Portland International Airport in Oregon, US.