Texas-based Bleutec Industries Offshore Wind Services has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the designs of its United States Jones Act-compliant Binary Marine Installation Solution (BMIS).
Developed by Bleutec in cooperation with NETSCo Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering and the Netherlands-based Penthus, the proprietary BMIS is a Jones Act-compliant concept that was introduced by the companies in response to the shortage of capable wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) and high-cost newbuilds.
The BMIS consists of two construction vessels – one for foundation installation and one for wind turbine installation, with the latter also capable of being used for commissioning and O&M since it is coupled with accommodations and marine support from a field service operations vessel (SOV).
ABS Vice President, Greg Lennon , said: ”The Bleutec solution integrates a number of known technologies into a systematic approach in the offshore wind supply chain. ABS is pleased to support their vessel designs and the incorporation of technologies to support the rapidly growing U.S. market with multiple projects advancing in permitting.”
These vessels are said to be designed in a modular configuration to facilitate construction in US shipyards.
NETSCo Vice President, Jan Flores , Bleutec’s appointed naval architect and marine engineer, said: ”This solution uses as its basis an American-made model incorporating simple design techniques from similar vessels already built and operating in the U.S. This is a significant development for offshore wind as it paves the way for the use of safe, efficient, costeffective Jones Act vessel solutions to this emergent industry.”
Bleutec’s vessels will be capable of installing turbines up to 22 MW and monopiles of up to 4500T with 15-metre diameter at any of the US offshore wind developments, Bleutec said.
BMIS is said to utilize innovative heavy lifting solutions, energy efficiency technologies and a state-of-the-art dynamic positioning system to enable the safe and cost-efficient transportation and installation of client offshore wind developments.
Robin Bodtmann , Bleutec’s President & CEO said: ”Along with our strategic partners, we hope to transform the offshore wind industry through our BMIS with the mission of becoming the premier provider of Jones Act transportation and installation for this market. This is a key milestone for the Company and Bleutec will continue to work closely with NETSCo and ABS to achieve class designation for the construction of our innovative system developed for the installation of clean energy in the U.S.”