New heavylift crane vessel unveiled
Dutch offshore equipment manufacturer GustoMSC has unveiled a new series of heavy lift crane vessels that it says are needed to address the needs of the rapidly growing offshore wind industry.
“With monopiles and jackets increasing in size and weight and the continuous need for efficiency in installation, a new generation of vessels is needed,” GustoMSC says.
The largest of the series so far is the ENSIS 5000 design, which is 220m long and 55m wide, with 9,500m2 of deck space, where it accommodates a 5,000t heavy lift crane with an increased load moment and lifting height in an optimised position to balance efficiency and flexibility.
“The vessel is designed around a combined upend hinge with a motion-compensated gripper that allows the ENSIS 5000 to take up to six XXXL monopiles in one trip,” says GustoMSC, which is owned by the American multinational engineering firm NOV.
”These capacities exceed present capabilities in the market. The draught is optimised to be able to operate from common marshalling yards, and a foldable A-frame allows mobilisation around the world.”
Two other designs – the ENSIS 3000 and 4000 – are based on the same principles but with different specifics: the 3000 is more compact, for installing smaller monopiles, pin piles or suction anchors; and the 4000 could work within an evolving US market as a Jones Act-compliant vessel.
