The 130.5m LOA, 38m wide vessel is capable of carrying up to 12 offshore wind turbines at a time. Although its hull and superstructure were fabricated in China, major equipment on Resolution was supplied by European manufacturers.

Rolls-Royce Marine undertook turn key responsibility for engineering, supply and integration of the power, propulsion, dynamic positioning and navigation equipment while IHC Gusto was responsible for the design and build of the hydraulically operated jacking system.

The Kentish Flats development will comprise 30 NEG Micon NM92/2750 offshore wind turbines of 2.75MW capacity, with the nearest turbine positioned some 5.3 miles from shore. With a 20 year operational life, the wind farm will provide nearly half the electricity consumed by Herne Bay, Whitstable and Canterbury combined while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 223,000 tonnes per year.

The contract to MPI was awarded by Danish civil engineering contractor MT Hojgaard, which is carrying out the design, supply and erection of foundations on a turn key basis for turbine producers NEG Micon.

MPI's chief executive Paul Gibson said, 'We are naturally very pleased to have secured this first contract so soon after the buyout. We hope it will put us in a strong position to win the contracts for cable laying and turbine topside installation, which are due to start in November.'

MJ Information No: 19618