AiP for wind turbine shuttle
DNV GL has presented China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) with an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate for a wind turbine shuttle (WTS) developed to install offshore wind turbines (OWT) at wind farms.
The certificate confirms that DNV GL has assessed the design according to class rules and found no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realised.
“CMHI and DNV GL have been partners in strategic cooperation for many years. Together, we both aim to not only set industry standards in ship and offshore unit designs, but contribute to safer and more environmental-friendly operation,” said Norbert Kray, DNV GL’s regional manager Greater China.
SWATH design
Unlike other installation vessels, the WTS has a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) design. This results in very low resistance at the design draught (16m) and excellent seakeeping performance, good motion behaviour characteristics, and high transit speed of 14 knots, said DNV GL.
Capable of transporting and installing two fully assembled wind turbines or two wind turbine foundations at a time, the vessel has a highly redundant dynamic positioning system installed and the wind turbine hoist tackles are equipped with an active system to compensate for the heave motion of the vessel.
The WTS can provide a “one-piece” installation service for OWT, as well as jacket foundations, piles, and other components, added DNV GL.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
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