London Offshore Consultants (LOC) has provided Barge Master and GustoMSC with an approval in principle for the work method of the Steady Top Feeder solution.
GustoMSC and Barge Master are developing a motion-compensated feeder solution for the first wave of US offshore wind projects.
The proposed solution places the motion-compensated platform BM-T700 on a US flagged offshore vessel or a seagoing barge in order to feed the wind turbine components to the offshore installation site to be installed by a non-US flagged wind turbine installation jack-up, thus complying with the Jones Act.
Barge Master and GustoMSC asked LOC to act as if they were appointed the marine warranty surveyor of an offshore wind project and on that basis to assess whether the solution of the Steady Top Feeder is in principle acceptable to them.
”The reviewed procedure is found to be acceptable at this stage of project development as a principle. LOC believes that with detailed HAZID and other normal project review processes for a live project this approach could be approved,” said Peter Croll , Renewables London Offshore Consultants.
Although GustoMSC sees sufficient potential for larger purpose-built Jones Act compliant installation jack-ups to cope with the expected increase in turbine size, weights and hub heights, the company sees the Steady Top Feeder Barge as a solid solution for the first wave of US projects.