Osbit has completed delivery of a bespoke gangway to service Shimizu’s offshore wind operations in Japan.
The UK-based offshore engineering and technology firm said the access system will be installed at Shimizu’s new–build offshore jack-up vessel for offshore wind construction.
Providing access from the vessel to turbine transition pieces, the variable height gangway is an evolution of Osbit’s existing offshore access capability and has been specially designed to suit Shimizu’s requirements.
It is extendable to a maximum length of 45 metres, and has the capability to luff from -30° to +45° and can slew through 330° for full flexibility of operation.
It was designed at Osbit’s Northumberland office and manufactured by Alucor in the UAE.
Osbit project director Phil Pennington said: “It has been great collaborating closely with Shimizu to deliver this project and I am incredibly proud of the team, not only for producing such high quality in a remote location but during a global pandemic when the shipping market was in turmoil.
“It’s a fantastic effort from all involved and we really pulled together to overcome a range of market and logistical challenges.
“This project is of major importance in the world wind market as globally we look to meet the increasing demands for greener ways of generating power – to satisfy the growing population and meet the Japanese government’s aims to install more wind turbines.”