What Crew Members Say About Frauke

In the late hours of June 22, 2026, at 10:15 p.m., the Bremerhaven Fire Department received an urgent call regarding a fire on the vessel 'Frauke' docked at the Lloyd Shipyard. Upon their swift arrival, firefighters found flames emanating from one of the ship’s fuel tanks. To address the escalating situation, two teams promptly entered the ship, equipped with breathing apparatus, while two additional teams worked diligently to combat the fire from outside. Their quick actions proved effective, as the blaze was contained and ultimately extinguished without further incident. Three individuals were treated at the scene by emergency medical services as a precaution, but fortunately, no serious injuries were reported. Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently underway, being handled by local police authorities. The operation engaged approximately 40 personnel, comprising members from both the professional Bremerhaven fire department and the Weddewarden volunteer fire department. The response concluded around 12:45 a.m. on June 23, ensuring the safety of the surrounding area and personnel involved.

In a significant logistical achievement, the heavy lift vessel FRAUKE has successfully finished a six-month project involving the transportation of oversized cargoes for an offshore development in West Africa. The journey commenced in the Netherlands, where two empty carousels, each measuring 12 meters in height and 26 meters in width, were loaded onto FRAUKE. These carousels had an initial weight of 620 tonnes each before being shipped to the United States. Upon arrival in the U.S., the carousels were utilized to spool over 2,000 tonnes of umbilicals, increasing their weights to 1,465 tonnes and 1,875 tonnes, respectively. The completed carousels were then transported back to the West African project site. FRAUKE played a crucial role during this phase, remaining onsite for two months to provide essential support to a specialized installation vessel. Once the installation work concluded, FRAUKE was tasked with returning the empty carousels to their origin in the Netherlands. A noteworthy challenge encountered during this operation was the weight distribution calculation on the hatch covers, as shared by SAL Heavy Lift. To ensure the stability of these covers, tailor-made steel supports were installed beneath each one. Additionally, a customized grillage was designed specifically to distribute the weight of the heavier carousel effectively. These precautionary measures not only ensured the stability of the cargo but also facilitated the safe handling and transport throughout the project's duration, showcasing FRAUKE's reliability and expertise in heavy lift operations.