/ Knuckle Boom Cranes

Huisman Knuckle Boom Crane Series for offshore and subsea operations

The Huisman Knuckle Boom Crane series is engineered for maximum performance in offshore construction and subsea operations. Designed for versatility, safety, and precision, these cranes are ideal for a wide range of applications across the Offshore Oil & Gas and Offshore Renewables markets. With optimised load control and smooth, accurate movements, the KBC enhances safety during deck handling, ship‑to‑ship transfers, and subsea installations.

The streamlined crane series ranges from 25mt to 600mt and supports configurations with the winch located either below deck or on the crane rear. Standard designs support water depths up to 3,000 metres, with deeper‑water capabilities available on request.

Advanced drive system for high‑precision offshore lifting

All Huisman subsea KBCs are equipped with a unique, in‑house‑developed drive system. This closed‑loop, constant‑pressure, secondary‑controlled hydraulic system delivers significantly higher stiffness and responsiveness compared to conventional primary‑controlled systems. This results in faster system responses and higher accuracy during load‑handling operations and Active Heave Compensation (AHC).

Energy efficiency and vessel grid integration

The internal hydraulic energy storage system and eco‑mode operation reduce peak power consumption and power swing to the vessel grid. During subsea deployment and other load‑lowering movements, the drive system is capable of regenerating power back to the vessel grid, significantly reducing overall energy consumption.

As standard, Huisman KBCs can be connected to a 690VAC grid; optionally, this can be adjusted to a DC grid connection with VFD for optimal interaction with the vessel’s electrical energy storage capabilities.