Offshore wind farm support vessel starts sea trials
Offshore wind farm support vessel N829, which claims to have the world's largest load capacity, was built by the COSCO (Qidong) Offshore Engineering Co Ltd. It began sea trials on June 26. [Photo/ntfabu.com]
Offshore wind farm support vessel N829 -- built by the COSCO (Qidong) Offshore Engineering Co Ltd and which claims to have the world's biggest load capacity -- started sea trials on June 26.
Its builders say the vessel features an unrivalled combination of exceptionally high transport and load capacity, impressive lifting heights and green technology. It was constructed for DEME's subsidiary GeoSea in Belgium to support their construction of offshore wind farms, and serve the oil and gas industry, as well as for decommissioning offshore installations.
With a total installed capacity of 44,180 kW, it is equipped with a high-tech crane with lifting capacity of 5,000 tons to a height of more than 170 meters.
The vessel can take the heaviest jackets, wind turbine components and structures in a single shipment. Its builders said that with this unmatched combination of high load and lifting capacity, the N829 can transport and install the next generation of giant multi-megawatt wind turbines.
The builders said environmental considerations were an important element of the vessel's design. It boasts dual fuel engines and can run on natural gas. It also has other environmental innovations on board, such as a waste heat recovery system that converts heat from the exhaust gasses.
The 216.5 meter long vessel can accommodate a crew of up to 131.
Luc Vandenbulcke, managing director of GeoSea, said that with its cutting-edge technology the offshore installation vessel could continue operations under the most challenging conditions.
The Qidong-built offshore wind farm support vessel features, its builders claim, an unrivalled combination of exceptionally high transport and load capacity, impressive lifting heights and green technology. [Photo/ntfabu.com]
The Qidong-built offshore wind farm support vessel is equipped with a high-tech crane with lifting capacity of 5,000 tons to more than 170 meters. [Photo/ntfabu.com]
