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Offshore ReWIND: The Most Read News in 2020

The offshore wind sector was busy throughout the last year and we saw more than a few big news. In this article, our editorial team brings a list of those that were most read on OffshoreWIND.biz in 2020.

Orion’s Heavy Lift Crane Collapses – Video

A heavy-lift crane installed on the offshore installation vessel Orion collapsed in May while undergoing load tests at the Liebherr construction yard in Rostock, Germany.

Two-Turbine Floater Prototype Breezes Through Tests in Baltic Sea

A scaled-down version of the Nezzy² floating wind turbine, a two-turbine floating wind platform, has been dismantled after completing its two-month tests in the Bay of Greifswald in the Baltic Sea.

Orion’s Crane Repair Starts

Liebherr started preparations for the recovery of the damaged HLC 295000 offshore crane on board the Orion vessel in the autumn of 2020. The repair project is expected to be completed in the course of 2021.

Tractebel Develops New Floating Wind, Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Platforms

Tractebel Overdick presented two innovative developments in December: a new floating wind foundation concept for 15+ MW wind turbines with a “hydrogen ready” option, and an offshore hydrogen production platform which can utilise the potential of large-scale offshore wind farms at an industrial scale of up to 800 MW.

World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Fully Up and Running

Ørsted commissioned the 1,218 MW Hornsea One wind farm in the UK in January 2020, when it became the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm.

Blade Crashes Into Apollo’s Gangway Offshore Belgium

A blade from one of SeaMade’s wind turbines collided with the gangway on DEME Group’s jack-up Apollo in the summer of 2020, after which the gangway detached from the vessel and fell into the sea.

Construction Starts on World’s Largest Offshore Wind Project

Preliminary construction on the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore wind project, started in January 2020 near the coastal village of Ulrome, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Crane for Next-Gen Offshore Wind Turbines Coming to Market

In October, the Netherlands-based Tetrahedron introduced a new crane for next-generation offshore wind turbines, said to be designed to fit on both existing and new jack-up vessels. According to the company, the crane has been designed to be future-proof and to handle wind turbines of up to 20 MW.

Crane Ordered for First Jones Act Compliant Offshore Wind Installation Vessel

Dominion Energy selected Huisman to deliver the crane for what will be the first U.S. Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel.

Vestas to Take Full Ownership of MHI Vestas

In October, Vestas Wind Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries signed an agreement through which Vestas will acquire MHI’s shares in the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind joint venture. In December, the companies finalised the deal.