A TOP-OF-LINE  MODEL:

THE CRANE AND PIPE LINE SHIP:  E.T.P.M. 1601.  Model by Carat,  C 064
Review by Ulrich H.Rudofsky




I am almost embarrassed to share the description of this extraordinarily beautiful model with you, because it demonstrates that I went financially over board . Therefore, I will mollify my guilt feelings and share these pictures with you.  Very little needs to be said, since we are dealing with an absolute masterpiece.   I hope the pictures bring out the exceptional workmanship and the  creative thought that made this a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition.  Ah, hopefully there will be more like this one soon!  Paraphrasing Mr. Rob Napier,  model aficionado and former editor of the Nautical Research Journal: "a great model looks like you want to get on board right away."     I think this applies to this one for sure!

(Note: One word of caution to those who may acquire such a model.  The model is shipped in a fine wooden frame and is screwed to a wood platform. Mine came with one cable detached.  The clumsy reattachment effort caused further problems.  Unless you are a brain surgeon, leave the cable hanging or lay it down at once!  The cables are blackened copper wire and are very difficult to handle without causing further destruction.)

From the model's flyer (from the German original): 

Launching and Commissioning:  May 16, 1974/Sept. 3, 1974
LOA:  180 meters (590.6 feet)    Beam: 35 meters (114.8 feet)
GW:  24,380 tons
Ship Yard:  Blohm & Voss, Hull No. 885
Owner: ETPM Paris
currently chartered by McDermott and first renamed to DLB 1601 later to DLB 60
Propulsion:  Diesel electric power, four Pielstick diesels, 8,000 hp each; two variable pitch propellers, bow-thruster rudder
Cruising Speed:  8 knots
Crew:  287 to maximally 400, depending on job requirements
Model configuration:  1975

Remarks:  Special purpose ship for offshore deployment, in particular the laying of deep-sea pipelines.  Storage for 7,000 tons of pipe sections on deck is available.  Lifting capacity of the main crane after design changes is 2,000 tons.  Pipe sections of commonly 24 meters (78.7 feet) and a diameter of up to 122 cm (4.0 feet) can be connected and laid at a rate of up to 30 sections per hour.  Laying in 300 meters (984 feet) is possible.  The world-wide deployment, mainly in the Baltic Sea region between drilling rigs,  or to the mainland (Scotland) with additional deployments to South America, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Far East/Australia.

  • complete ship #1 view from above
  • complete ship #2 starboard side
  • complete ship #3 front view
  • complete ship #4 port side
  • complete ship #5 port aft
  • complete ship #6 directly aft
  • bridge #1 bridge from above
  • bridge #2 bridge sideview
  • amidship #1 bridge and amidships, starboard side
  • amidship #2 amidships, starboard side
  • amidship #3 bridge and amidships, port side
  • amidship #4 bridge and amidships, port side, deck details
  • amidship #5 bridge and amidships, deck details
  • crane #1 the crane
  • crane #2 the crane: base and deck details
  • crane #3 the crane: detail

  • ETPM 1601 the Original


    • Hansa did a model of this fascinating huge crane too. That model (S 330) was in the common Hansa style which was (partly due to the spin casting) much cruder than the Carat-model (and - of course - much cheaper). For comparinson I include a few pictures of the Hansa model. A similar vessel named Sea Troll was built by Blohm and Voss. Hansa issued this sister of ETPM1601 as number S330/1.
  • Hansa S330 Sideview
  • Hansa S330 view from above (with large shadow)
  • Hansa S330/1 Sea Troll (picture by Michael Meyer)


    • Some time ago I took a few pictures of a group of craneships including the Hansa ETPM 1601. These pictures give an impression on the size of this ship. For comparison I included a common type of ship - a DE from Neptun (that is the tiny grey one!). The other huge craneship in the group is Hansa S333 (Astrakran later named Azerbeidjan), the small one is Magnus II (Hansa H56), a common type of floating crane that is usually considered to be a large crane.
  • Group 1 from above
  • Group 2 from astern, good comparison for the height
  • Group 3 sidewiew
    • Copyright © 2001 by
    Ulrich H. Rudofsky (for text and pictures about the ETPM1601 by Carat)
    Ingo Hohm (text and pictures about the ETPM1601 by Hansa)
    Michael Meyer (picture of Sea Troll by Hansa)
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