New Caledonia: operation at the Yaté wind farm and inauguration of our new workshop

John Cockerill’s teams in New Caledonia carried out a delicate operation to lift a generator weighing nearly 5 tons at the Yaté wind farm, for TotalEnergies Renewable Solutions, in the south of Grande Terre in early November. The aim of the operation was to replace a generator on a wind turbine at a height of over 70 meters.

This operation required lengthy and meticulous preparation due to technical and access constraints. Following recent bad weather, preliminary work had to be carried out to reinforce the site in order to secure access for the 150-ton crane and the trucks that transported all the equipment to the work site (including 44 tons of counterweights). At the same time, the teams carried out a lifting study using simulation software to define all the conditions required to carry out this delicate operation in complete safety.

The operation itself required perfect coordination between the foreman and the crane operator, as well as precision in the crane’s movements and suitable weather conditions. As the only team to have positioned itself and responded favorably to carry out this operation, our team demonstrated its know-how and skills at every stage of the intervention. It was a resounding success, followed locally in New Caledonia by our client TotalEnergies Renewable Solutions, but also live from mainland France via videoconference.

Gilles Weisselberg and Manuelle Escriba said: ” Congratulations to the team that masterfully led this project: Ismael Kono, lifting supervisor and crane operator on the operation, Thierry Wadewe, foreman and slinger, Jean-Jacques Kotopeu, slinger and forklift operator on the operation, and finally Diane Labrunie, HSE Manager, who implemented all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment. Their commitment and professionalism have made this success possible, which should open up new opportunities for us in new areas of activity.“