Dutch heave compensation specialist Seaqualize not too long ago executed what it says is the world’s first offshore switch lifts of wind turbine elements from a heaving provide vessel.
The corporate’s newly developed offshore lifting system, the Heave Chief 1100, was deployed by DEME Offshore US on the Winery Wind 1 mission. Along with the feeder barge resolution developed by DEME Offshore US with companions Barge Grasp, Foss Maritime and Seaqualize, and the operators and tools from GE Renewables, this know-how will be certain that the GE Halliade X 13 MW generators might be put in year-round.
Seaqualize was accountable for executing the quick elevate from the barge to the jack-up set up vessel, whereas compensating for heave motions. The corporate says that is the primary time such delicate however heavy lifts have been finished, below protected compensation and with full energetic heave management.
Seaqualize develops and operates inline balanced heave compensators, a next-generation lifting software particularly designed for heavy-lift, in-air energetic load management. Its HC1100 is able to compensating and fast-lifting 1,100 mT, required to steadiness turbine elements of the 15 MW technology.
Usually such lifts would require extraordinarily flat seas, as re-hits with the heaving barge deck or shock hundreds to the lifting crane would trigger severe injury, the corporate says. However over the primary set of lifts made thus far, the HC1100 has proven it may enhance the workability of such operations: lifting can proceed whereas the machine continues to completely compensate heave motions as much as 3.5 m, and the primary lifts confirmed it may fast-lift full hundreds at speeds of over 70cm/s (42 m/min).
For the tall tower sections of as much as 70 m excessive, two separate programs by Barge Grasp additional compensate pitch and roll motions.
“We’re very pleased with these first profitable quick lifts and the contract and cooperation with DEME,” says Seaqualize Managing Director Gjalt Lindeboom. “As well as, the second Seaqualize Heave Chief – the HC750 – is about to begin operations this month on one other wind farm set up mission ramping up within the U.S. We’re at present planning the manufacturing of extra machines to help tasks in 2024 as much as 2026.”
