The Thialf has two cranes with a combined maximum lifting capacity of 14,200 metric tons.[4]
It is equipped with a class III dynamic positioning system. Propulsion and position keeping is by six 5,500-kW retractable azimuthing thrusters. For shallow waters there are 12 Flipper Delta anchors at 22.5 t, with 2,500-meter, 80-mm mooring wire.
The hull consists of two pontoons with four columns each. Transit draft is about 12 meters. For lifting operations, it is normally ballasted down to 26.6 m (87 ft). This way the pontoons (with a draft of 13.6 meters) are well submerged to reduce the effect of waves and swell.
In 2000, it set a world record of 11,883 t by lifting Shell's Shearwater topsides, beaten by Saipem 7000 in 2004 with the Sabratha deck lifting of 12,150 t.[5]
In 2004, it installed the topsides on BP's Holstein, at the time the world's largest spar. The lift was a record for the Gulf of Mexico: 7,810 t. The current[as of?] record for Gulf of Mexico is now held by the Saipem 7000 with the 9,521 t of PEMEX PB-KU-A2 deck installed in March 2007.[6]
In 2005, it installed the heaviest single piece foundation piles: 2.74 meters diameter × 190 meters long, weighing 818 t each for Chevron's Benguela Belize compliant tower.
2017-2018: The Thialf was involved in the installation of the platform sections of the Johan Sverdrup Complex, part of the development of the Johan Sverdrup oil field.[7]
