Renewable energy gets some Mojo
UK renewable energy specialist, Mojo Maritime, has unveiled its HiFlo-4 Installation vessel (HF4), a new high performance vessel built around the installation processes of tidal energy farms.
The twin hull vessel, which is powered by four Voith Schneider Propellers (VSPs), has been designed to operate using dynamic positioning in current up to 10 knots, allowing for easier access and improved productivity during the construction phases of windfarms.
It is capable of installing foundations, cables, subsea connectors and turbines in a wide range of conditions. The design of the vessel, which has been inspired by Mojo’s work with Bauer on its BSD-3000 Subsea Drill, provides a safe platform for installing drilled foundations.
Richard Parkinson, managing director, Mojo Maritime, told Maritime Journal: “We’ve always struggled to find vessels which can handle working in the high tidal flow environment and we’ve found that the risks we’ve faced are too high. With the tidal energy sector approaching the stage where it needs to be industrialised, we initiated the design of the vessel two years ago. For the past year we’ve been looking at the economics of it and we think this is the safest and most cost effective solution.”
He added: “We will operate the vessel on an call-out basis as part of a consortium of vessel owners, offshore contractors and specialist suppliers, which we hope to finalise in the next couple of months.”
Construction of the vessel is due to beigin at the end of the year, with completion in summer 2015.
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