Norwegian outfit Kongsberg Maritime has won a $13m contract to supply a technology and electrical package for a new heavy lift crane vessel for use by Offshore Heavy Transport in the offshore wind industry.
The package will include dynamic positioning, navigation, thruster control and automation systems. Electrics to be supplied include battery hybrid power and energy management systems.
The vessel is a customised Ulstein Design & Solutions design, and will mark the entry of Norwegians Offshore Heavy Transport into the offshore renewables and installation market.
China Merchants Heavy Industry is building the ship, which is scheduled to enter service in 2021. Options exist for a further three vessels.
The first 216.3-metre, 48,000 tonne vessel will have a submersible main deck and a 3000- tonne lifting capacity.
It will be able to transport and install up to ten 1500-tonne ultra-large jacket foundations or 11 2000-tonne XXL monopiles and transition pieces, Kongsberg Maritime said.
OHT chief executive Torgeir Ramstad said: “The heavy lift market has always presented a series of very specific challenges, but combining heavy lift crane capacity to a semi-submersible vessel genuinely represents a bold step into the offshore working environment of tomorrow.
“In working with Ulstein to design an innovative transport and installation vessel everyone has had to pull out all the stops, including defining the most efficient marine technology and Kongsberg Maritime has demonstrated that they are in the fore-front of delivering a state-of-the-art, integrated solution to meet our needs.”
Kongsberg Maritime executive vice president sales and marketing Bard Bjorlow said: “The fact that China Merchants Heavy Industry selected our solution to enable OHT’s expansion into the offshore renewables and installation market is a valued endorsement of our approach to the integration of operational and digital technology.
“We are looking forward to seeing this sophisticated vessel in operation and delivering continued support to ensure that OHT can maximise the potential of the Kongsberg systems on board.”