Arctic technology: Winterisation of FPSO 38 Cruise ... - Ship & Offshore

Vessels like this might be built according to the new class
notations
Class rules for wind
farm service vessels
DNV | In order to improve
safety and promote uniform
standards, the classifi cation
society Det Norske Veritas
(DNV) has developed class
rules for wind farm service
vessels.
The new rules, recently published,
contain two class notations:
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Windfarm Service 1 for
craft trading domestically
and carrying up to 12 technicians
Windfarm Service 2 for
other craft carrying up to
60 persons on board.
The class notation Windfarm
Service 1 for domestic operations
is voluntary and represents
a complete technical
standard.
The notation includes requirements
not only for the
construction, machinery, systems
and watertight integrity
of the craft, but also for the
craft’s stability and lifesaving,
fi re safety and navigation
properties.
Windfarm Service 2 applies to
craft intended to carry up to
60 persons, which are typically
longer than 24m. For these
vessels the class and statutory
sections in the rules may be
applied separately to satisfy
the requirements of the selected
Flag State.
The reason for the development
of the new rules is that
wind farm service vessels have
traditionally been constructed
to domestic standards that
vary from country to country.
This has created diffi culties
for operators seeking to employ
their vessels in different
jurisdictions across Europe.
Stakeholders in the offshore
wind industry, including the
fl ag states, have thus asked
for more transparent and uniform
regulation of this segment.
DNV says that some
fl ag states have also indicated
that class notations will become
mandatory for wind
farm service vessels in the
near future.
DNV has already secured a
contract for the fi rst two vessels
to be built to the new
class rules.
Propulsion system
INSTALLATION VESSEL | The
fi rst wind-farm installation
vessel ordered by Swire Pacifi c
Offshore`s acquisition Blue
Ocean is under construction at
Samsung Heavy Industries. It is
due to be delivered in June 2012
with an option for a second
vessel with delivery in 2013.
The ship of Knud E.Hansen design
will be equipped with an
integrated electrical power and
propulsion system by power
and automation technology
group ABB.
The specifi cations, including
latest-generation Azipod
thrusters, are meant to give
the shallow-draft vessel maximum
manoeuvrability in water
depths of up to 75m.
Expected to operate in European
waters, the initial vessel will
feature an integrated electrical
drive system, working in tandem
with four Azipod C units,
fi tted aft. This is ABB’s newgeneration
compact Azipod
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propulsion solution, which has
been designed for construction
simplicity, as well as for both
bollard pull and transit requirements.
The four Azipod C units
will be rated at 3400kW each.
Designed for installation of
wind turbines and foundations,
the new vessel is said to
offer a signifi cantly improved
operating-weather window
when compared with existing
ships, crane capability
of 1200 tonnes, DP2 station
keeping, a transit speed in excess
of 13 knots, and singlecabin
accommodations for
111 people. According to ABB,
the compactness of the Azipod
C units, easier installation and
minimal use of lubrication
oil were critical factors in the
equipment selection. Another
key factor is that the all-electric
Azipod solution consumes less
fuel and thus cuts emissions
when compared with conventional
propulsion equipment.
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Ship & Offshore | 2011 | N o 1 43