Norwegian company OHT announced today it is entering the offshore wind turbine installation markt, through its wholly owned subsidiary VIND Offshore Installation AS. The heavy transport company entered into a binding Heads of Agreement with China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) in Jiangsu, China for the construction of two wind turbine installation vessels with options for a further two units. The first is to be delivered early 2023.
The vessels will be jack-ups of GustoMSC design. They feature a telescopic crane with maximum capacity of 2,500t and a maximum lifting height of approx. 165m. The units will be capable of efficiently installing in water depths up to 65m.
Environmental footprint
Special emphasis has been placed on providing an environmental footprint by way of energy and heat recovery, battery hybrid solutions as well as a sophisticated electrical and control system, reducing CO2 emissions by 20% compared to similar units, the company says. As a future option, the vessels have been prepared for fuel cells powered by hydrogen to be installed to cut emissions even further.
The first unit will be delivered in early 2023. The delivery structure for the second unit is flexible.
OHT has been active in the oil and gas industry for 14 years. Since 2017 it is also active in the offshore wind sector. Its activities mainly consisted in transport of offshore wind foundations. Two years ago, OHT ordered the foundation installation vessel Alfa Lift, also at CMHI. This vessel, to be delivered next year, is designed to install monopiles and jackets from a floating vessel in dynamic positioning mode to achieve higher efficiencies and lower cost. Its first project will be the Dogger Bank A & B.
With the order of the wind turbine installation vessels, the company will be offering fully integrated Transport and Installation (T&I) services to the offshore wind sector. The venture is based on a concept and business model initially developed by VIND Offshore Installation AS and its founder Rune Magnus Lundetræ.
