Noble Denton – Guidelines for Lifting Operations by Floating Cranes
The Noble Denton Guidelines for Lifting Operations by Floating Cranes provide internationally recognised best-practice guidance for the safe execution of heavy lifting operations using floating cranes and crane vessels. These operations are among the most technically complex and high-risk lifting activities in the offshore and marine environment.
Because floating-crane lifts involve dynamic loads, vessel motion, stability risks and extreme load consequences in case of failure, Cranes for You includes these guidelines in the Knowledge Centre as a benchmark for safe marine lifting operations worldwide.
Summary of the Guidelines
The guidelines define technical and operational requirements for planning and executing floating-crane lifting operations. Key elements include:
- Scope of application: The guidelines apply to offshore and near-shore lifts performed by crane vessels, shearlegs, floating derrick cranes and barge-mounted crane systems.
- Lift categorisation: Lifts are categorised based on complexity and risk (routine, non-routine, heavy lift), determining the level of engineering, verification and planning required.
- Engineering & lift design: All floating-crane lifts require detailed lift engineering, including load weights, centre of gravity, rigging design, dynamic amplification factors and stability assessments.
- Crane vessel stability: Intact and damaged stability must be verified for all lift phases, including maximum hook load, outreach, slewing and ballasting conditions.
- Rigging & lifting gear: Slings, shackles, lifting frames, spreader beams and rigging arrangements must be engineered, certified and verified for both static and dynamic loads.
- Environmental criteria: Wind, wave height, swell, current, tide and visibility limits must be clearly defined in operational criteria and weather windows.
- Operational procedures: Detailed method statements must describe lift sequence, communications, exclusion zones, contingency actions and emergency response.
- Marine assurance & approval: For many projects, independent third-party verification and marine warranty approval are required before lifting operations can proceed.
Practical Relevance in Offshore Projects
Applying these guidelines in practice ensures that:
- Heavy modules, jackets, monopiles and offshore structures are lifted under fully engineered and controlled conditions
- Stability risks of crane vessels are managed throughout all lift phases
- Dynamic effects from vessel motion, wind and waves are incorporated into rigging and crane capacity checks
- Operational limits are clearly defined and respected through strict weather-window control
- Clients, contractors and insurers have a universally accepted assurance framework
- High-consequence failure scenarios are systematically reduced through engineering verification and marine warranty control
This guidance is essential for offshore wind, oil & gas installations, port construction, heavy marine infrastructure and large module installation projects.
Official Source
These guidelines are issued by GL Noble Denton under the title:
Guidelines for Lifting Operations by Floating Cranes (commonly referenced under Noble Denton marine assurance practices).
Related Knowledge Articles
- GL Noble Denton – Guidelines for Load-Outs (0013/ND)
- IOGP – Lifting & Hoisting Safety Recommended Practice
- Hoisting and Rigging Safety Manual
- CPA – Maintenance, Inspection & Thorough Examination of Mobile Cranes
Ready to Improve Safety and Efficiency?
Floating-crane operations demand the highest level of engineering control and operational discipline.
Download the Noble Denton floating-crane lifting guidelines from this page and integrate them into your marine lifting procedures to ensure safe, verifiable and insurable offshore lifting operations.
