MPI Discovery delivered and Europe bound
MPI Discovery has enhanced features based on operational experience gained during the eight years MPI Resolution has been working.
MPI Offshore Limited (MPI) has taken delivery of the MPI Discovery, the second of the organisation’s two wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) to be built at the Cosco Qidong Shipyard in China.
The vessel left the shipyard late last month. It is designed to transport, lift and install wind turbines and their foundations. Along with its sister ship, the MPI Adventure, it is claimed to be the world’s most advanced and most efficient WTIV in terms of jacking speed, deck space, lifting capacity and positioning capabilities (DP2). These enhanced characteristics have been achieved without losing the original concept of combining the now tested technologies pioneered by MPI on its first WTIV, MPI Resolution. The experience gained from operating MPI Resolution in the offshore wind turbine installation market since 2003 has proved vital in implementing these enhancements.
Key features on the MPI Discovery include a 1,000-ton capacity main crane and a 50 ton capacity auxiliary crane, accommodation capacity for 112 persons, a maximum operating depth of 40m (at 5.0m leg penetration and 7.8m air gap) and an ability to jack with 6,000 tons of cargo onboard.
Speaking on the occasion, MPI Offshore chairman Paul Gibson said, “This truly is another proud day for all at MPI, Vroon and the Cosco Shipyard, plus the many other parties who have worked tirelessly for the last three years to bring about the delivery of such an impressive piece of engineering. MPI Discovery represents the ‘next generation’ of WTIV and is a unique combination of tested technologies applied in an innovative way to provide a single vessel transport and installation solution for the offshore wind sector.”
Following completion of the repositioning voyage from China and arrival in European waters, MPI Discovery will be engaged in the installation of wind turbines for the London Array Offshore Wind Farm which is under construction in the outer Thames Estuary.
The development is approximately 30 km off the North Foreland on the Kent coast in the area of Long Sand and Kentish Knock and, when complete, will cover 230 sq/km between Margate in Kent and Clacton in Essex. Phase 1, with 175 turbines and a combined capacity of 630 MW is only a small part of the development. With an eventual total capacity of 1,000 MW, London Array is expected to become the world's largest offshore wind farm.
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