GROUNDBREAKING NEWS Unique fit-for-purpose monopile installation vessel for US waters

Wind Energy – Monopile Installation Vessel

US based Bleutec Industries announced today a groundbreaking transformative solution for the offshore wind industry.

The Binary Marine Installation Solution (BMIS) has been developed in cooperation with NETSCo Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Netherlands based heavy lift expert Penthus.

The design of this installation solution is based on simplicity, with maximum and efficient use of only the necessary equipment and optimized weight distributions to minimize vessel requirements.

The result is a self-propelled jack up vessel with dual-crane setup that is cheaper, easier and faster to build and maximizing the repetitive benefits of monopile installation. Similarly there is a light jack up vessel for the installation of turbines.

“Our goal with these vessels is to provide the most cost-effective offshore wind T&I solution that integrates commissioning, operations and maintenance activities, as well as maximizes local content,” says Robin Bodtmann, CEO of Bleutec Industries.

Bodtmann also stated that Bo Jardine will be joining his organization as Chief Innovation Officer to lead the full development of the proprietary offering and work with classification societies such as ABS, Lloyd’s, DNV and the U.S. Coast Guard. “Bo brings a wealth of marine technology knowledge, and we are very excited to have him join the team. We are committed to continuing to build our high caliber team.”

Today, the industry faces an installation supply chain crisis in the US and globally the shortage of capable vessels continues to be a challenge. Current vessels are often either unavailable or inadequate for the size increase in both piling foundations and wind turbines. New build costs for these highly specialized, complex vessels continue to rise.

“The US offshore wind industry has been paralyzed by the perceived notion that a Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) has to be constructed in a certain way and that is not feasible. NETSCo Engineers have been devoted to designing a bespoke WTIV, focusing on the design parameters that matter most and eliminating the nice to haves. We are very fortunate to support Bleutec, that believes in us and shares our vision on what this industry needs,” says Jan Flores, NETSCo Principal.

Bleutec, with support from key service providers, will offer an end-to-end solution that is cost competitive not just in the US, but globally. The BMIS is comprised of two construction vessels – a Piling Installation Vessel (PIV) and a WTIV-Light – coupled with accommodations and marine support from a field SOV that can be deployed by clients for commissioning and long-term O&M by already trained crews.

Through Penthus’ heavy lift expertise, Bleutec is committed to working with local workforce development agencies to train and build a robust US workforce for our vessels.

Penthus’ Koen van der Perk says: “We are extremely proud to be selected as a key contractor of Bleutec in support of their groundbreaking integrated approach. With a strong commitment to transfer European knowledge and experience to the US, share our network and introduce our Dutch innovative monopile installation method, we are honoured to play a key role in the creation of an all-American solution.”

The integrated offering will provide the following advantages to developers and the market:

•             Available Third Quarter 2024 for PIV and Third Quarter 2025 for WTIV-Light;

•             More cost effective even when constructed in US to comply with the Jones Act;

•             Simplified simultaneous and multi-purpose operations;

•             Safer, more deck space for construction operations, and less critical specialized crews;

•             Decarbonization.

Technical specifications of the vessels will be released at a later stage, according to Bleutec.

Original Source: https://ocean-energyresources.com/2022/07/04/groundbreaking-news-unique-fit-for-purpose-monopile-installation-vessel-for-us-waters/