Denmark: Knud E. Hansen Designs Two Wind Turbine Installation Vessels for Swire

The self-elevating and self-propelled vessels were designed for Swire Blue Ocean, Denmark, for installation of offshore wind turbines and support in the offshore oil & gas sector.

The first of the two vessels was delivered from Samsung Geoje Shipyard in October 2012, and the second is expected to follow in the winter of 2013.

The vessels are equipped with six 105 m long truss-type legs and a high-speed rack-and-pinion jacking system, which enables them to jack to a safe height of 17 m above the water on 60 m water depth.

The legs can, however, be lengthened by 20 m, in which case the vessels can jack to 22 m on 75 m water depth, where they can survive even the most severe storm conditions.

The 1200 t leg-mounted crane is capable of installing 500 t heavy nacelles on top of turbine towers 120 m above the sea, and the 4300 m² cargo deck has space for up to twelve 3.6 MW turbines.

The relatively fine hull lines in the bow gives the vessels a good speed even in higher waves, and with 4 stern thrusters, 2 bow thrusters, 2 drop-down thrusters and a DP-2 dynamic positioning system the vessels have state of the art maneuverability.

The accommodation holds 111 crew single cabins with private bathrooms as well as all necessary crew facilities and offices, and a helideck is fitted forward above the accommodation block.

[mappress]

Press release, October 25, 2012; Image: Knud E. Hansen