WPNL 202101

Transport & Installation
Jan-Mark Meeuwisse
Q/A with Jan-Mark Meeuwisse, Commercial Director GustoMSC
A look at future offshore
wind turbine installation
In 2002, the first GustoMSC designed jack-up barge, ‘Buzzard’, worked on the
construction of Horns Rev1, Denmark’s first large offshore wind farm. Since
then, over thirty GustoMSC designed Jack-ups (barges and vessels) have been
operating in the offshore wind installation and maintenance.
How many GustoMSC designs have been
developed over time?
“Since 2007 over seven dedicated WTI-JU (Wind Turbine
Installation Jack-Up) designs have been designed and are
operational. These last four years we have developed 4 new future
proof WTI-JU designs. All of them are under construction at
shipyards in the US, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and China
and each design has its owner specific requirements incorporated.”
What design has been the most challenging
and why?
“For me personally that will be the first NG-9000C designs, being
the Sea Installer and Sea Challenger for A2SEA and the Brave and
Bold Tern for Fred. Olsen Windcarrier. These where the first
dedicated new generation WTI-JUs and in time the most copied
designs. Here we enabled the installation market to install faster,
carry more than 8 WTG (Wind Turbine Generator) sets with full
length towers, integrated leg encircling cranes and operate in a
deep water range of 45 to 50 meters. The market required
dedicated installation vessels for faster, safer installations and these
NG-9000C’s installed most of the WTG’s to date.”
What have been the main developments in
design since the first vessel?
“There have been many developments in the design, for example,
when it comes to the operational window, like significant wave
height (Hs) ability, crane capacity, payload, deck area, number of
components in one go, installation speed and safety. In particular
in the jacking system, in combination with the design of the hull,
leg, leg guides and footing.
Our success is that we supply the design and jacking system as an
integrated solution, therefore reducing the risk of the shipyard and
eventually the owner. These jack-ups are supported on four hard
points (legs). The complete hull needs to be lifted daily, meaning
the number of jacking moves are far more compared to the jackups
used in the Oil&Gas sector. We have managed to achieve high
jacking cycles and less wear & tear on the legs and system,
reducing OPEX during the life time of the WTI-JU. There is no
other supplier in the market that provides an optimized design and
system fully integrated.“
“We are able to integrate all these disciplines like the jacking
system, legs, crane, and more, in one design without
compromising on the safety, capacity, operability and strength.”
Over time, what have been the main changes
in requirements for vessels?
“The main challenges have been in crane capacity and outreach,
hoisting height and carrying capacity, resulting in larger and wider
vessels. And installing WTG’s and foundations in deep waters. All
due to the growing WTG sizes.”
Can conventional installation vessels still
install the future turbines or do you expect
completely different concepts?
“Over time we have been able to upgrade the NG-9000C with
minimal investments for the owner. Designed in 2008 for installing
3.6 to 5 MW WTG’s, we have been able to upgrade the designs to
install the 8 and 9.5 MW WTG’s. These owners recently
announced major upgrades. We already executed serious
engineering work to upgrade these NG-9000C’s, enabling to carry
1,600 ton cranes with longer booms.”
“Larger cranes are heavier and weight on a jack-up is a major
issue, therefore upgrades of the jacking system will be required
and one should accept the reduction of carrying capacity. New
innovations in these upgrades is mainly the Operating Support
System (our OSS - a Smart App) in order to maintain and control
safety of the overall Jack-up.”
Can existing vessels still be upgraded/refitted
to future standards?
“Only a few WTI-JUs can be upgraded. There is a limit to
upgrades and payload capacity will eventually be insufficient to
carry sufficient WTG sets. In addition some of these jack-ups are
restricted in water depths. Therefore the ‘shelf-life’ will be limited
and these jack-ups will end up executing maintenance work.”
28 | 01-2021