Bugsier and Wartsila Present New Wind Farm Installation Vessel Concept

Reducing costs for offshore wind generated electricity is one of the major challenges in the European energy market. The novelty about the jointly developed concept for reducing costs during installation, from the Bugsier-, Reederei- und Bergungs- GmbH & Co. KG and Wärtsilä is, that the tasks for transport and installation are separated, by which loading components onto the installation vessel, is carried out offshore at the building site.

The newly developed installation vessel jacks-up on site and only then it receives its cargo. The vessel is then ready to install foundations, topsides and turbines with its own onboard crane.

Erecting Offshore Windturbines (OWT) is presently done by installation vessels, which load components at a base harbour, transport them to the windfarm location and install them there. The majority of installation vessels are built as jack-up vessels. Their jack-up system enables them to operate independent from any wave movements; they work as a stable working platform. First generation vessels are simple platforms – “Liftboats” – without any propulsion, whereas second generation installation vessels are converted cargo ships fitted with legs and the third generation are purpose build jack-up vessels with own propulsion.

Already in 1962 the Hamburg based engineering office SCHIFFKO – which was bought in 2007 by the Finnish Wärtsilä- Group – developed the jack-up-platform „Barbara“. “Barbara” served as an ocean based platform for rocket launches in the German Armed Forces for many years. Recently SCHIFFKO – now named Wärtsilä Ship Design has done a couple of studies for various second generation conversion projects. The designs for the third generation installation vessels „Victoria Mathias“ and „Friedrich Ernestine“, for RWE Innogy as well as the „Innovation“, worlds largest purpose build Windturbine Installation Vessel, owned and operated by a Hochtief – Subsidy are the latest vessels to enter the European market for installation vessels.

OWT vessels of the fourth generation without a jacking system are designed to work as semi – submersible or SWATH type installation Vessels. These features allow them to work more independent from wave movements, enabling them to install complete pre-commissioned windturbines. Picking them up at a base harbour and transferring them to their final location, ready for installation. But due to their novel concept and high investment costs these vessels presently lack the financing they require.

Visible tendencies with the newer designs are, that the vessels are becoming heavier and more complex with higher deadweight capacity and more powerful propulsion. By increasing the load capacity, the vessel operators intend to transport more Windturbine components per roundtrip and the higher propulsion power enables them to minimize voyage times.

The installation concept developed by Bugsier and Wärtsilä consists of three components: Installation jack-up, feeder barges and suitable tugboats.

As opposed to traditional installation gear, the installation vessel has no cargo deck but a cargo dock. Arrived at the location, the installation vessel – under full ballast – puts down its legs until a firm stand on the seabed is achieved, the cargo dock is flooded, the dock gate can be opened, a feeder barge loaded with windturbine components can be docked, the dock gates are then closed. Next, the dockship jacks-up to its working position above the sea, releasing its ballast water and bailing the cargo dock. Inside the dock the barge rests on the keel blocks on the enforced dock bottom. Now windturbine components can be installed by the vessels crane independently from the wave motion. Finally the dockship jacks down, ballasts again and releases the emptied feeder-barge, ready for the next barge with new cargo.

Bugsier and Wärtsilä are aiming at the efficient use of the installation vessel, which should be enabled to stay out at sea and work full time in the windfarm. Even going into port for refuelling is not necessary, if the feeder barge is equipped with fuel bunkers. The concept also includes the possibility to switch to LNG as an alternative fuel and the usage of low emission Gas – Engines for all onboard energy.

The entire project has already entered the concept design phase. The next months will be used to mature the basic design, so that the first vessel could be available in 2016. First customers have expressed severe interest in the solution.

[mappress]
Press Release, August 5, 2013

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The installation concept developed by Bugsier and Wärtsilä consists of three components: Installation jack-up, feeder barges and suitable tugboats.

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