OHT has awarded MacGregor, part of Cargotec, an order for a monopile installation system for its offshore wind foundation installation vessel Alfa Lift.
The order, which is the largest single vessel contract secured to date by MacGregor, was booked in Cargotec’s 2020 third quarter order intake.
The monopile installation system is scheduled to be delivered during the fourth quarter of 2021.
Alfa Lift is being built at the China Merchants Heavy Industry shipyard in Jiangsu.
Scope of supply includes the engineering, procurement and construction of the monopile lifting, skidding and transfer system, which has to be carried out by employing an upending tool and motion compensated gripper frame.
The motion-compensated gripper frame will be closely interfaced with the vessel’s dynamic positioning and control system in an integrated solution, developed jointly by MacGregor and Kongsberg Maritime.
Both companies claimed that the application of automated handling solutions will “increase the safety, productivity and consistency” of the installation operation, resulting in “substantial cost and time savings”.
Alfa Lift is scheduled for delivery in 2021.
The vessel will feature a 3000 tonne main crane, a 10,000 square metre “smart deck”, capable of carrying and installing up to 14 XL monopiles in each voyage. The vessel will be able to fully submerge the main deck to a depth of 14.66 metres.
OHT chief executive Torgeir Ramstad (pictured, right) said: “OHT is committed to continuously advancing the development of technologies within offshore wind operations, thereby enabling complex operations to be undertaken at the highest levels of safety and efficiency.
“The monopile installation solution is the result of applying our collective capabilities and experience to solve market challenges and achieve optimum operability for our vessels.
“Whenever we ask MacGregor to solve operational challenges in the demanding marine environment they, together with partners, demonstrate excellent technical understanding and respond quickly. We are extremely pleased to be working together on the exciting Alfa Lift project.”
MacGregor president Michel van Roozendaal (pictured, left) added: “MacGregor has invested in applying its vast knowledge of offshore technology into enabling the progression of renewable energy, with the OHT Alfa Lift contract being an excellent example of where these advanced technologies can be put to work.
“I would also like to add my appreciation of the trust that OHT has placed in MacGregor, and equally recognise the collaborative team effort that has resulted in the innovative monopile installation solution being developed.”