Vision 2012/1 - Rolls-Royce

The WTIV may transport to site and install the
monopile foundations for each wind turbine,
erect the tower, install the nacelle which
contains the generator and turbine hub, then
fit the blades.
Propulsion and manoeuvring. Rolls-
Royce does not design complete WTIVs, but
has become a well established supplier of
propulsion and manoeuvring systems. The
first major contract was to supply systems
and products for the pioneering installation
jack-up vessel originally named Mayflower
Resolution, now MPI Resolution operated by
MPI Offshore, part of the Vroon Group.
MPI Resolution was the first purpose-built
wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV),
designed to install foundations, towers and
nacelles. It has been very successful, having
been involved in the building of several
offshore wind farms.
Rolls-Royce provided complete integrated
systems for MPI Resolution, combining its own
products and third party equipment to
provide the owner with a single-source
supply. Included were the propulsion and
manoeuvring thrusters – four 1.5MW US 205
azimuth thrusters at the stern and three
700kW CP tunnel thrusters at the bow, and
the integrated control system.
Denmark and UK. After a slow start and
financial difficulties caused by delays in
approval of offshore wind farm projects, MPI
Resolution began work on the Horns Rev
(Denmark) and Kentish flats (UK) sites. Other
UK farms followed, and at Thanet the vessel
distinguished itself by carrying out a full load
of nine turbines and towers, and installing
them all in one week.
MPI is now putting into service two new
WTIVs for which Rolls-Royce has provided
both diesel electric power and propulsion
systems. These vessels incorporate the
knowledge gained from operating Resolution
under a variety of conditions. MPI Adventure,
the first to be delivered, made the voyage
from the shipyard in China to Harwich on the
east coast of England before starting its first
contract installing wind turbines on the
London Array development off the mouth
of the river Thames. The sister ship, MPI
Discovery, is due for delivery later in the year.
MPI Adventure is a large self-propelled jack-up
vessel, 138m long , 40.8m beam but drawing
only 3.5m light. Six legs allow the vessel to
operate in water up to 40m depth
depending on the amount of sinkage of legs
into the seabed and the wet deck clearance
needed. Dynamic positioning to DP2
standard enables the vessel to be accurately
located. The main crane is rated for1,000
tonnes at 25m radius, with a hook height of
104m. There is accommodation for 112
people.
Six Rolls-Royce Bergen C25:33L-8 diesel
generator sets provide electrical power for all
purposes. Three US 355 fixed pitch azimuth
thrusters propel MPI Adventure, giving a
transit speed of 12.5 knots, and are
complemented by three TT 2200 DP tunnel
bow thrusters.
These new MPI vessels will transport, lift and
install turbines and foundations efficiently,
based on a good transit speed and the ability
to move quickly from one installation
location on the array to the next, position
accurately, jack up rapidly and begin
installing without delay. The WTIVs can also
remain on station, jacked-up, in severe
weather conditions.
MPI Resolution at work.
VISION 1/12
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