Barge Master and GustoMSC have received approval-in-principle for the work method of a new offshore wind feeder barge concept.
The two companies, which jointly developed the barge, asked London Offshore Consultants (LOC) to act as if the consultancy had been appointed the marine warranty surveyor of an offshore wind project.
The assessment is an important step for the two companies as they aim to commercialise their Steady Top Feeder in the US offshore wind market.
LOC renewables consultant Peter Croll said: “The reviewed procedure is found to be acceptable at this stage of project development as a principle.
“LOC believes that with detailed HAZID and other normal project review processes for a live project this approach could be approved.”
The Steady Top Feeder barge allows the contractor responsible for turbine installation at an offshore wind project to have the components delivered at sea next to the jack-up and under the hook of the crane.
The motion of the seagoing barge is compensated by Barge Master’s BM-T700 platforms, enabling lift-off from a steady area improving safety and uptime of the offshore feeder operations.
The concept has potential for wind farms such as the Vineyard Wind project off the US east coast while adhering to the requirements of the Jones Act, according to Barge Master and GustoMSC, as existing Jones Act-compliant barges can be used.
According to GustoMSC there is also potential for larger purpose-built Jones Act-compliant installation jack-ups to cope with the expected increase in turbine size, weights and hub heights, which would facilitate the Steady Top Feeder Barge as an adequate system for the first wave of US projects within the remaining timeframe.