DNV Grants AiP for Hanwha Ocean’s 15 MW Floater

South Korean company Hanwha Ocean has obtained DNV’s Approval in Principle (AiP) for the concept design of its floating wind foundation, named WindHive 15-H3, developed for wind turbines with a capacity of 15 MW.

The AiP for the concept design (pre-FEED) verifies the stability of the technology and compliance with international regulations, according to the company.

While the number 15 in the name WindHive 15-H3 stands for 15 MW wind turbines, H3 stands for the three hexagonal columns the floater comprises. Hanwha Ocean says the hexagonal shape of the columns was adopted to facilitate the connection between the columns. The floating platform is designed for wind turbines with a rotor diameter of 240 metres, the company said in a press release on 3 January.

With the AiP granted for WindHive, a name for whose trademark Hanwha Ocean applied in 2023, the South Korean company says is expanding the scope of its offshore wind solutions, adding to its existing offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).

To date, Hanwha Ocean, formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, has secured orders for four WTIVs, according to the company.