Offshore staff
SCHIEDAM, the Netherlands – Huisman has introduced a motion compensated platform to quickly and safely transfer wind turbine components from a feeder vessel.
Since using an internationally flagged wind turbine installation vessel is restricted under the Jones Act, a feeder vessel with a motion compensated platform is said to offer a reliable and efficient solution for transportation of components in US waters.
According to the company, the motion compensated platform provides a stable deck area because it actively counterbalances the effects of vessel motions. This means that lifting heavy components and moving an empty jackup vessel can be done in more severe weather conditions, thus increasing the weather window for operations.
The dimensions and capacities of the new platform are said to be optimized for next-generation wind turbines and are designed to compensate for five degrees of vessel motions. It can be integrated into the hold of a vessel and aligned with the main deck, making it easy to skid cargo across the platform.
Cees van Veluw, product manager at Huisman, said: “By using an offshore rated feeder vessel equipped with our motion compensated platform, the jackup vessel can continue installation work without having to shuttle back and forth to load new components. Maximizing the operational time results in a faster and more reliable delivery of an offshore wind farm, compared to more traditional feeder solutions.”
With this development, the company aims to grow its presence in the US offshore wind market.
In December 2020, Keppel AmFELS contracted Huisman to deliver a 2,200-metric ton leg encircling crane for Dominion Energy’s Charybdis, the world’s first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel.
In May 2020, Jan de Nul’s vessel Vole au Vent installed the first monopile foundations in US federal waters using Huisman’s motion compensated monopile gripper.
04/26/2021
