Client Name: Hakkers B.V
Our Seaflex multi-attachment enclosed Inflatable Buoyancy Units (IBUs) are designed for safe and certain operation in applications such as pipelaying, shallow-water salvage and towing, and draught reduction. This is a cost-effective and reliable option for clients than the existing alternatives.
Project Summary
Unique Group’s Buoyancy and Ballast division used 3t, 5t and 10t Seaflex branded IBUs (Inflatable Buoyancy Units) to assist the float-in process of a cycle bridge under a bridge in Aalsmeerderbrug near Amsterdam.
Client Requirement
The client, Hakkers B.V, and the architect of the bridge Vroegh EDC had undertaken the project to construct a bridge to streamline the traffic around Schiphol Airport to create a better traffic flow by separating the bicycles and pedestrians from vehicles.
After the completion of the construction of the bridge, they had reached out to Unique Group for a solution to ensure smooth floating in of the cycle bridge to its final position.
Challenges managed
Completing the project within the deadlines ensuring all the COVID-19 precautions were followed was a challenging task, but with proactive planning and incredible teamwork, it was made possible.
Unique Solution Delivered
Unique Group after evaluating the requirements from the client, technically assisted the architect by assessing and providing the required quantity of buoyancy bags and developing the rigging plan. Our Buoyancy and Ballast team in the Netherlands attached the 8 X 10T and 6X 3T Inflatable Buoyancy Units (IBU) bags to the 90T bridge and assisted the floating in.
For further safety in the event, any damage happens to the bags underneath the bridge, additional 16 X 5T IBU’s were attached to avoid capsizing of the bridge and ensure a safe and smooth floating process.
The cycle bridge was placed on a pontoon and the Unique Group team installed all the IBU’s on the bridge in 3 days’ time and the floating of the bridge with the crane into the water was finished in 3 hours.
As IBU’s which are filled with water were used, we were able to trim the bridge into position on the foundation pillars. Once the bridge was in position, the buoyancy bags were deflated slowly to perform the final trimming.
After the completion of the floating in using the Unique Group buoyancy bags, the divers bolted the bridge to the pillars following which the IBU’s under the bridge were removed.
The project was completed successfully with excellent cooperation between all parties involved, this resulted in the float in of the bridge to be completed in a quick time span of 3 hours right from hoisting the bridge from the pontoon into the water and floating in the bridge’s middle section underneath the viaduct into position.
Client Benefits
The constructional architect, Vroegh EDC, of the bridge and the client Hakkers B.V. were very pleased by the ease and efficiency of the Seaflex buoyancy bags in comparison to their previous practices for such floating in projects.
The alternatives to the solution of water-filled bags for such an application would generally be difficult and expensive to handle. So, the benefits Unique Group’s Seaflex water bags provided the client are:
- The water bags are easy and economical to pack, transport and stow until required.
- Easy to handle and to rig.
- Easy to fill, owing to the plentiful supply of water unlike other methods
- Easy to remove, pack down and stow once the job is complete.
- Available on a project rental basis.
- Customised solution based on client needs
Client Name: Hakkers B.V
Our Seaflex multi-attachment enclosed Inflatable Buoyancy Units (IBUs) are designed for safe and certain operation in applications such as pipelaying, shallow-water salvage and towing, and draught reduction. This is a cost-effective and reliable option for clients than the existing alternatives.
