Kariba Dam Cofferdam Rehabilitation Project
Sarens successfully engineered and executed specialized lifting operations for the rehabilitation works at Kariba Dam, one of Africa’s most significant hydroelectric power facilities. The project involved the operation of a Sennebogen 5500 mounted on a floating pontoon to perform critical lifting activities within the cofferdam area under technically demanding conditions.
Due to the complexity of operating a large crawler crane on a floating structure, extensive engineering coordination and technical assessments were required throughout the project.
Key considerations included pontoon stability, crane inclination tolerances, ground bearing pressures through the crawler tracks, varying water levels, restricted working areas, and the design of safe mooring arrangements for the crane while operating on the pontoon. Sarens worked closely with the client and engineering teams to continuously refine and optimize the lifting methodology to ensure all operations remained within safe operational limits while maintaining project progress and efficiency.
The lifting solution required multiple engineering revisions and specialized planning for:
Pontoon flotation and stability
Crane operating inclinations
Ground bearing pressure calculations
Crane configuration optimization
Mooring and restraint systems
Stoplog and structural lifting operations
Safe lifting procedures under dynamic marine conditions
In addition to the engineering complexity, the project environment itself presented significant operational challenges due to the critical nature of the infrastructure, limited access, and continuously changing site conditions. Despite these challenges, Sarens successfully executed the required lifting operations safely and efficiently, contributing to major rehabilitation milestones achieved on the project.
The successful completion of these works demonstrated Sarens’ ability to provide engineered heavy lifting solutions in complex and non-standard environments where conventional lifting methods would not have been feasible. This project stands as a strong example of engineering excellence through technical problem solving, collaboration, innovation, safety, and successful execution within a critical infrastructure rehabilitation project.
Sarens,
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