The first steel has been cut for the offshore wind installation vessel (WIV) ordered by Maersk Supply Service at the Sembcorp Marine shipyard in Singapore.
In March, the Denmark-based Maersk Supply Service ordered a wind turbine installation vessel and won its first contract with Equinor and BP to install wind turbines at the Empire Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind farms.
Designed in-house and patented by Maersk Supply Service, the wind turbine installation solution is said to work in conjunction with a new feeder technology, which is expected to be over 30 per cent more efficient than conventional jack-up vessels.
The WIV has also been selected to install wind turbines at the Beacon Wind offshore wind farm in the United States. This project is being developed by Equinor and BP. The contract is a direct continuation of the previously announced contract for Empire Wind.
The jacking units, load transfer system, and a crane will be provided by NOV, and the design work has been supported by class society ABS.
In addition to the wind turbines, the vessel will also be capable of installing monopile foundations at +60m water depth using its NOV crane.
Maersk’s newbuild, which will feature Steerprop’s propulsion package, is scheduled to be completed in 2025.