Vessel designer Knud E Hansen has unveiled a new wind turbine installation vessel design capable of carrying 14MW turbines.
The latest design is part of the Atlas series of wind turbine installation vessels.
The Atlas A-class vessel is specifically dimensioned for transporting and assembling wind turbines on top of pre-installed foundations.
This is predicated on the concept that the offshore wind sector is creating more opportunities for specialized vessels.
Foundations, which are heavy but do not require jacking, can be efficiently installed from a heavy-lift vessel and, as a result, the Atlas A-class can be “”entirely optimised” for the jacking operation, with a 1600-2500 tonne crane and minimal system weight for the jacking equipment.
The A-class design can be highly customised by selecting cranes, thrusters, generators and jacking systems according to the specific requirements of the client, as well as availability from the manufacturers.
The powering of the vessel is provided by eight generators connected to a DC grid and a battery pack, allowing the engines to run at variable speed for fuel efficiency while also using load levelling and peak shaving.
The batteries make it possible to recover approximately 60% of the energy used for jacking, when the jacking units are reversed on the way down.
The high-speed electrical rack-and-pinion jacking system is designed for 5000 load cycles, ensuring that the legs and components will withstand wear throughout the life of the vessel, avoiding costly and resource-heavy replacements along the way.