General – Rock Dumping and Fallpipe Equipment
AXTech from Norway has recently completed its largest delivery to date, supplying equipment for DEME’s new rock dumping and fallpipe vessel Yellowstone.
The delivered system, a Fallpipe system, is designed to accurately place rocks on the seabed, protecting critical underwater infrastructure such as wind turbine foundations, pipelines, and cable corridors.
“We have never built this type of equipment before, so this project has truly tested the capabilities of our organisation. Over two years, we have developed and delivered a technically advanced solution that few others in the world have created,” says Richard Myhre, CEO of AXTech.
The project comprises two distinct systems: a Vertical Fallpipe System (VFPS) and an Inclined Fallpipe System (IFPS).
The inclined system features an innovative compensation methodology to counteract vessel movement. It is employed in shallower waters, where precision is essential for placing rocks near wind turbine foundations.
The vertical Fallpipe system operates as a ‘factory’ that assembles pipe elements to the required length, allowing for rock placement at depths of up to 500 metres.
