About Cranemaster
About Us
Cranemaster is a specialist provider of shock absorbers and heave compensators for offshore crane and lifting operations. Our heave compensators and shock absorbers compensate forces and motions directly at the load or hook level, securing offshore lifting operations and enabling clients to work in higher waves. We have a large fleet of Cranemaster® units for lifts up to 1400 ton ready for rental, located in Norway or at our local representatives.
Our competent engineering team is eager to solve any challenge you have related to dynamics or motions, using our existing technology or through development of tailor made solutions. Orcaflex analysis of lifting operations are carried out by our analysis team.
Pioneers in offshore lifting
Founder Ernst B. Johansen
Since its foundation in 1983, Ernst-B. Johansen AS (the official company name) has become a market leader in the field of shock absorption and passive heave compensation systems for offshore lifting operations.
The founder Ernst B. Johansen perceived a gap in the market following an increasing number of lifting incidents in the North Sea. With hard work and dedication he made the company a success in its niche.
Today – through its marketing brand Cranemaster – Ernst-B. Johnansen AS works closely with the world’s leading offshore contractors.
Continous product development
Innovation and continuous product development is at the heart of the Cranemaster philosophy. Since the first units were developed in the early 1980’s, they have been continuously improved and refined, with features such as Lock & Release, Quick Lift and Depth Compensation.
Today our advanced systems are equipped with valves, sensors and PLS automatically optimizing the properties of the units from lift-off to landing.
Our new and modern facilities allows us to carry out various tests and simulations and even our largest units can be handled in-house.
Worldwide Cranemaster Network
Local stock, service and solution engineers through trusted partners worldwide. Feel free to contact them directly.
News from Cranemaster
Challenging met mast removal (decommissioning)
Based on solid experience on suction bucket foundation installation challenges, Cranemaster was recently involved to support on a [...]
Mudmat safely installed in deep waters
Cranemaster was recently used for deployment of a large mudmat (13,75 x 13,75 meter) at 1788 meter in the [...]
Meet Cranemaster at OFFSHORE ENERGY 17 in Amsterdam 10 – 11 October
We are looking forward to many good meetings at the OFFSHORE ENERGY 17 Exhibition & Conference in Amsterdam [...]
Cranemaster launching world’s largest passive heave compensator
We have extended our fleet of units with the world’s largest PHC. Safe working load (SWL) for the [...]
Management Team
Espen Johansen
CEO
Espen Johansen has nearly 20 years of experience from the offshore oil & gas industry. Ten of these years in Statoil as a process engineer and later as a department technical advisor dealing with both subsea and topside applications. Espen has been involved in Cranemaster since the early 90`s, gathering extensive experience in the field of passive heave compensation.
Espen has education in both process/mechanical disciplines and business economics and is currently active on several boards of directors.
Sondre Gonsholt
CTO
Sondre Gonsholt has broad experience from the offshore industry, with particular focus on subsea technology. Starting at FMC Technologies, he worked as a field engineer offshore, supporting subsea well operations. He continued his career as technical lead and specialist engineer, developing new technology for vessel based riserless well intervention. Since joining Cranemaster, he has been responsible for several large development projects.
Sondre holds a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU).
Mente Baak
Global Sales Manager
Mente Baak has held various management positions within international business development. He started his career in Mitsubishi Europe, before he was employed 15 years by the European headquarters of the bearing company NSK with sales and marketing responsibilities in the Nordic countries. Before starting at Cranemaster, he was head of global sales & marketing at Kumera maritime gearboxes, initiating new market and product development.
Mente has a mechanical engineering background and education in management and business development. He is native Dutch, but has been living in Norway since 1999.
Kristian Helland
Product Manager
Kristian Helland has broad experience from technology and product development. His career started in SINTEF Applied Chemistry as scientist within analytical chemistry and empirical modelling. After several years in Borealis as researcher and manager in product and process development he continued to solar wafer production as part of the Technology Mangement team in REC Wafer, part of REC Group.
Kristian holds a PhD in analytical chemistry and empirical modelling from the Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU).
Order & Delivery
Cranemaster have the world’s largest fleet of rental units ready for immediate mobilization. Combined with rapid response from quotation through to delivery ensures our customers short lead times and on-time delivery.
The Cranemaster® units can be shipped by road, sea or air. Shipment is usually done in open containers or on pallets. If air freighted, the units can not be pressurized in advance. The units are delivered with shackles on both ends (heavy duty or wide body), hoses, manometer, gas filling set, adapter for Nitrogen bottles and valid certificates. If required, a Cranemaster service technician can assist with mobilization, give sessions on site for the operational crew and/or assist offshore during the lifting operation.
Dimensions and weight for each unit is given in Product Datasheets and can be requested either through our Inquiry Form or from our Rental Fleet overview. Our sales engineers are happy to help you find the best solution for your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, utilization of a Cranemaster® unit will have an effect on peak loads for lifts in air. When there is relative motion between a lifted object and the boom tip, a snap load will occur. As a consequence, the dynamic amplification factor (DAF) will increase and potentially lead to unacceptable high peak loads. A Cranemaster® unit will work as a shock absorber, efficiently removing these snap loads, and as a result reduce DAF and improve safety. Typically, this will enable you to conduct such lifts in higher sea states, and thereby increasing the operational weather window.
No, as passive Cranemaster® units rely on external forces to reduce motion, it will have no impact on the movements of free hanging objects in air.
What is the difference between Active Heave Compensation (AHC) and Passive Heave Compensation (PHC)?
Both Active Heave Compensation (AHC) and Passive Heave Compensation (PHC) are techniques used on lifting equipment to reduce the influence of waves upon offshore operations. AHC differs from PHC by having a control system that actively compensates for any movement using external energy. Passive systems reacts to external forces without additional energy to control the motion.
Yes, Cranemaster® units will work perfectly together with AHC that responds to inputs from an accelerometer.
Yes, the Cranemaster® is designed to instantly respond to its surroundings, take up slack wire and reduce dynamic loads.
As of today Cranemaster® has been used at 2700 meters water depth and is designed to operate down to 3000 meters. However, for deep water operations special depth compensation techniques may be required.