Crew transfer vessels, or CTVs as they are known, are at the heart of the O&M vessel revolution. A2SEA’s offshore wind experts give their viewpoints on prominent CTV issues.
Crew transfer vessels
Installing 8 MW turbines
In 2014, DONG Energy announced that the MHI Vestas V164 8.0 MW turbine was the preferred model for Burbo Bank Extension, making it the first commercial site for an 8 MW turbine project. We asked A2SEA’s Hans Peter Johannsen what it takes to load, transport and install these huge structures. Continue reading
Plug ‘n’ play contracts on the horizon?
Leading engineering industry association FIDIC is currently developing new, standardised contract capabilities to support the offshore wind industry. We talked with Renewable energy law specialist Martin Sandgren of Ince & Co LLC (pictured) and Michael Junker, Head of Legal Affairs at A2SEA about what’s on the horizon. Continue reading
Mission possible
By Steen Drue,
Project Manager, A2SEA
When the mobilisation gets tough, the tough get mobilising
Monday, 30 June 2015: SEA CHALLENGER began mobilisation prior to installing 97 Siemens 6MW turbines at the Gode Wind 1+ 2 wind farms in the North Sea.
The task, which took place from 30 June to 31 July, called for the preparation of sea fastenings for turbine components, an extension of the main crane boom and the installation of a helideck. And, of course, everything had to be done in parallel and in a safe, well-coordinated manner. For added complexity, planned maintenance would be carried out simultaneously, too. Continue reading
Northern Europe’s newest export?
The standards work that has been performed by the established European offshore wind industry over more than a decade is creating a valuable HSE platform not only for North Europe, but also for less experienced markets such as Southern Europe, Asia and the USA. Continue reading
Quicker and quieter
In January 2014, six companies got together to test the use of vibration piling as a quieter, faster way to sink monopiles into the seabed. The results aren’t finalised yet, but what’s the current status?
RWE Innogy, E.ON, Dong Energy, Vattenfall, EnBW and Bilfinger Marine and Offshore. When a line-up of companies like this gets together to support an innovative project, you would expect them to make quite an impact. In the case of this pilot project, however, the situation is quite the opposite. Continue reading
SEA CHALLENGER’s main crane
We take a closer look at what is perhaps the most crucial piece of onboard machinery in offshore wind installation.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE BOX
For an offshore wind installation vessel, a main crane is like a carpenter’s hammer: the most important tool in the toolbox. There, however, is where the comparison stops, because SEA CHALLENGER’s main crane is one of the most up-to-date cranes in offshore wind, capable of feats far in excess of anything you can do with a hammer. Continue reading
Gravity never sleeps
With safety at the heart of everything A2SEA does, we constantly look for areas that could offer further improvements – or reinforce focus on key safety practices. Recently, we’ve implemented a Dropped Objects campaign designed to offer greater protection to A2SEA employees, our suppliers, sub-contractors and clients. Continue reading
We call it “The Transformer”
By Morten S. Pedersen, Westermost Rough Project Manager
At Westermost Rough, A2SEA has been working with Siemens Wind Power’s sophisticated tool for installing single blades at higher windspeeds and with greater safety. It’s impressive-looking, and it works just as impressively, too. Continue reading
Efficiency in the driver’s seat
What can offshore wind learn from industrial manufacturing? DONG Energy’s Mats Vikholm, drawing on his experience as a top manager at Volvo, Pininfarina and SAAB, is at the helm to encourage best practices that can help to lower the cost of energy. Where has he started – and what are his responsibilities and viewpoints? Continue reading