Pinned Lift Tools (PLTs)

LDD Pinned Lifting Tools (PLT) are very cost effective, simple to operate, safe and can be easily installed in vertical or horizontal piles.

LDD PLTs feature a simple single pinning system for securing to, upending and lifting piles. Once the pile is in place the pin is typically removed manually by personnel or WROV , releasing the PLT from the pile and allowing tool recovery. Remote pin actuation systems can also be provided, powered from surface HPUs, WROV HPU (hotstab) or pressurised hydraulic accumulator systems (all similar to LDD Hydraulic Release Shackles). LDD PLTs operate both above and below water with operational water depth limited only by WROV depth rating.

LDD PLT key features:

Product range 35 to >600 tonne
Size range 0.5m to 6m diameter. Standard offshore pile range from 20" to 96"
Easy installation in both vertical and horizontal piles
Fail safe, secure, positive 'pin though hole' lifting mechanism.
No 'slipping' or loss of grip concerns.
Standard units mechanical design. No hydraulics, no moving parts.
Simple, efficient and cost effective.
Surface to deepwater (3000m) applications.

LDD PLTs are engineered to ensure trouble free and simple operation at surface and subsea. For our standard units there are no hydraulics, umbilicals or moving parts to go wrong or become trapped or entangled.

The tools are designed specifically for open ended piles and provide easy, safe and efficient upending on deck (or seabed).

LDD PLTs eliminate pile upending and lifting using welded lugs or pad eyes and side loading on shackles, which may then require to be removed and pile surface made good.

The lift load is transferred to the pile by a pin passed through the pile. For this, two diametrically opposite holes are needed in the top of the pile. There is a positive connection between pile and tool through the pin which cannot slip and does not rely on hydraulic pressures and systems to maintain a gripping force. LDD undertake the design and engineering to determine the hole location and sizing in the pile and provide the customer with drawings and supporting calculations for this. LDD PLT are designed and manufactured in accordance with recognised codes and standards and provided with a load test certificate.

A standard LDD PLT consists of two basic parts, the Lift Plug and the Lift Pin:

The Lift Plug: This is inserted inside the pile (much like an ILT) up to the plug's lip which seats around the top of the pile ensuring the plug is at the right level for holes alignment. The Lift Pin body has a diametric hole incorporated in its body through which the Lift Pin is inserted. The main lift point is integrated into the Lift Plug for standard shackle attachment. The PLT also has an integral lift arm with lift holes balanced to the Lift Plugs' horizontal centre of gravity for level insertion into the pile.
The Lift Pin: With the Lift Plug inserted and holes aligned between the pile and Lift Plug, the Lift Pin is passed straight through the pile, Lift Plug and out the other side of the pile. A safety clip is then inserted through the end of the Lift Pin to secure it. The Lift Pin and safety clip are ROV friendly for easy pick up and pull out sub sea. The Lift Pin and safety clip are connected to the top of the Lift Plug by secure safety wires allowing them to fall away safely when pulled out and be recovered all in one with the Lift Plug. The 'Pin Plug fit' is engineered to ensure the Lift Pin can be easily and smoothly inserted and extracted when the lift load is slackened off. The Lift Pin is also designed to minimise the pull out force sub sea.

LDD PLT's are typically provided in pairs. Associated shackles and lift rigging can be provided by LDD if required.

Special LDD PLTs can be provided with integral hydraulic pin release systems, should ROV intervention not be possible, powered by the wide range of LDD HPUs surface and sub sea. Such systems and HPU options are similar to those used for LDD Hydraulic Release Shackles,

Special LDD PLTs can also be supplied with integral pile sealing bungs together with a lower pile sealing stopper for floating of piles allowing marine transfer and/or buoyancy assisted lifting. They can also be supplied with remote latching devices( LDD StabLATCH) to remove human interface during marine connection to crane and LDD StabLIFT can be used to minimise shock loading during lift initiation.