MacGregor,
part of Cargotec, has received a significant order for delivery of the
mission-critical system to be installed on the OHT offshore wind foundation
installation vessel, Alfa
Lift,
being built at the China Merchants Heavy Industry shipyard in Jiangsu,
China.
The order, which is the largest single vessel contract secured to date
by MacGregor, was booked in Cargotec’s 2020 third quarter order intake.
The monopile installation system is scheduled to be delivered during the
fourth quarter of 2021.
Scope
of supply includes the engineering, procurement and construction of the
monopile lifting, skidding and transfer system, which is an integral part
of the installation process undertaken by employing an upending tool and
motion compensated gripper frame.
The motion-compensated gripper frame will be closely interfaced with the
vessel’s dynamic positioning and control system in an integrated solution
developed jointly by MacGregor and Kongsberg Maritime. Both companies believe
that the application of automated handling solutions will increase the
safety, productivity and consistency of the installation operation, resulting
in substantial cost and time savings.
Alfa
Lift
is scheduled for delivery in 2021 and will be the world’s largest
custom-built offshore wind foundation installation vessel. She will feature
a 3,000 ton main crane, a 10,000+ m² ‘smart deck, capable of carrying
and installing up to 14 XL monopiles per voyage and will be able to fully
submerge the main deck to a depth of 14.66m.
"OHT is committed to continuously advancing the development of technologies
within offshore wind operations, thereby enabling complex operations to
be undertaken at the highest levels of safety and efficiency. The monopile
installation solution is the result of applying our collective capabilities
and experience to solve market challenges and achieve optimum operability
for our vessels," says Torgeir E. Ramstad, Chief Executive Officer.
“Whenever we ask MacGregor to solve operational challenges in the demanding
marine environment they, together with partners, demonstrate excellent
technical understanding and respond quickly. We are extremely pleased to
be working together on the exciting Alfa
Lift project."
“Working closely with MacGregor, we have developed an innovative solution
that improves the efficiency of foundation installation vessels by replacing
lengthy, temporary mooring processes with full DP in combination with an
integrated guidance system and hydraulic frame mechanism,” says Gunnar
Thorsen, SVP Business Concepts, Kongsberg Maritime AS.
"MacGregor is delighted to be selected to supply the mission-critical
work system for the Alfa
Lift vessel,”
says Leif Byström, Head of the Offshore Solutions Division. “We have
worked intensively over several years to develop a state-of-the-art solution
that provides the most precise installation method for all monopile ranges.
We appreciate and highly value the hard work and great cooperation between
the OHT, Kongsberg Maritime and MacGregor teams that have made this possible."
Michel
van Roozendaal, President, MacGregor says “MacGregor has invested in
applying its vast knowledge of offshore technology into enabling the progression
of renewable energy, with the OHT Alfa
Lift contract
being an excellent example of where these advanced technologies can be
put to work. I would also like to add my appreciation of the trust that
OHT has placed in MacGregor, and equally recognise the collaborative team
effort that has resulted in the innovative monopile installation solution
being developed.”
Alfa
Lif has been awarded its first offshore wind contract. The vessel will
be installing the 200 monopile foundations and transition pieces on Dogger
Bank A
and Dogger
Bank B projects.
For more information on offshore wind
farm construction and maintenance vessels, click
here.