Franklin Offshore International and Lankhorst Ropes (part of WireCo WorldGroup) will collaborate to develop the market for fibre rope slings for heavy lift offshore projects in Southeast Asia.

Singapore-based Steel wire rope fabricator Franklin provides rigging and mooring equipment and services to the global offshore construction, oil and gas exploration and production industries. The agreement with fibre rope and under-the-jib equipment manufacturer Lankhorst will see it act as the sole distributor of the Netherlands-based company’s range of heavy lift synthetic rope slings in Southeast Asia.

Lankhorst is active in research and development relating to the performance of fibre rope slings under realistic scenarios, providing offshore installation companies with the ability to determine and predict fibre rope sling behaviour for safe use in lifting projects.

“As a leading supplier of steel wire slings for many years, we recognise that recent developments in fibre rope slings by Lankhorst Ropes now make it a viable alternative to steel wire in those projects where the self-weight of the wire is too much for the vessel’s crane,” said Angie Tang, ceo of Franklin Offshore International.

Wilco Stroet, managing director of Lankhorst Ropes, said the company’s Lankoforce lifting slings increase lifting options for offshore contractors. “They maximise crane lifting capabilities, provide a gentler lift and extend the reach of subsea deployment systems in deepwater,” he explained.

The Lankoforce range of ropes produce slings with a minimum breaking load of around 2,000 tonnes in single leg configuration and 3,200 tonnes in grommet configuration.

Lankoforce heavy lift slings are available in two configurations: eye-and-eye and endless loop (grommet).