Damen to Unveil Walk to Work Vessel at EWEA’s Event

Damen’s focus at EWEA Offshore 2013 will be on the introduction of their new offshore wind vessel providing in field accommodation and work space for engineers working on all phaes of wind farm projects.

Strong coastal winds make offshore turbines the natural choice for wind-powered energy production. Their distance from land, however, can push up operating costs as maintenance crews spend wasted hours travelling to and from the wind farm.

To drive down operating costs, Damen has been working with shipping operators and major turbine manufacturers to develop a specialist maintenance vessel for the wind farm industry. Scheduled for release at EWEA Offshore 2013, Damen’s Wind Farm Service vessel is being configured to provide on-site work and accommodation for 21 maintenance personnel with the logistics and layout to service up to seven turbines a day. Featuring efficient work and storage space, along with well-appointed accommodation facilities, the Wind Farm Service vessel will be able to remain at sea for a month.

Walk-to-work technology

Each working day will start with the Wind Farm Service vessel dropping off three man maintenance crews using a telescopic, motion-compensated gangway. While the vessel is positioned by a dynamic positioning system, the gangway will allow maintenance personnel to quickly and safely walk to and from the turbine in a range of weather conditions, including waves of up to three meters. Optimized for its task, the vessel also delivers cost savings in terms of fuel consumption. Designed to drop all seven maintenance crews within a three-hour period, the vessel will then remain on hand to provide support or emergency assistance, before picking up the crews when they have finished their full day maintenance programme. Crews can then relax in quiet and comfortable accommodation, which includes a fitness and wellness center, one-person cabins, and full internet and on-board movie services, to be ready, refreshed, and instantly on site to service the next day’s turbines.

Damen will launch the Walk to Work vessel on Wednesday 20 November at 3.30pm at their stand (30B120).

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Press release, November 4, 2013; Image: damen