Huisman to continue offshore wind jacking system trials

Nov. 1, 2022
Huisman has completed a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for its first jacking gearbox for a jacking system designed for current and future offshore wind turbine installation jackup vessels.

Offshore staff

SCHIEDAM, the Netherlands  Huisman has completed a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for its first jacking gearbox for a jacking system designed for current and future offshore wind turbine installation jackup vessels.

A proprietary control system is designed to optimize the load distribution for turbine and foundation installation.

Huisman is working with gearbox supplier O&K Antriebstechnik, part of the Bonfiglioli Group, for the development.

The FAT involved multiple tests under motion at O&K’s test facility in Hattingen, Germany. Once Huisman has received the gearboxes at one of its production facilities, it plans to continue with full-load jacking demonstration trials.

Among the features of the jacking system are

  • Two gear versions – L and XL – suited to vessel designs produced by various independent design companies, allowing owners to freely choose the vessel’s hardware of preference.
  • Static pinion loads up to 800 metric tons (L) or 1,000 MT (XL)
  • Flexible suspension method for smart integration with the vessel design
  • Potential to achieve leg preload capacities beyond 30,000 MT, depending on leg layout and the system’s number of layers
  • Control provided by Huisman’s proprietary Variable Frequency Drive control system
  • Integration of power system with various makes of cranes, and with power grids supplied by different electrical integration companies.

11.01.2022