Ampelmann has sold two W-type motion compensated gangway systems to the Norwegian Shipbuilding company, Ulstein Verft. The systems will be permanently integrated into two newly built Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOV’s) that the Norway based offshore wind vessel supplier, Olympic, has ordered from the shipyard and are due to be launched in 2024.
The news follows after Olympic Group placed the order for two CSOVs with hybrid battery propulsion and two options at Ulstein Verft.
For Ampelmann, the order is the third biggest sale of the year so far the company said.
W-type
The W-type is one of Ampelmann’s latest electric motion compensated systems. The system is height adjustable and can withstand sea states up to 3.5m Hs. Tailor-made to individual vessels, this modular system can convert any vessel into an SOV/CSOV. Ideally suited for construction, commissioning and maintenance work on wind farms, the W-type’s variable height and automated landing software enables a safe and quick turnover of personnel and cargo during extended campaigns that require efficient servicing of multiple turbines. Outfitted with a lift and a gangway that doubles up as a crane, it can safely transfer both personnel and cargo up to 2000kg and remote-controlled trolleys can transport 400kg of equipment across the gangway.
“We are pleased to continue our long-standing working relationship with Ampelmann. Olympic has been working more or less continuously on offshore renewables projects for the last ten years, and these new investments shows our intent to continue to serve the renewable energy markets and clients also in the coming decades. Ampelmann W-type gangway permanently integrated onboard Ulstein SX222 CSOV’s will optimize our workability in a safe and efficient manner,” says Frode Andreassen, VP Commercial Renewables at Olympic.”
“Alongside the system,” Caspar Blum, Ampelmann’s Area Manager for Business Development for Europe and Africa, says, “we will continue to offer our service package to Olympic. In the past fifteen years we have developed a robust service model to support our rental fleet. As we are transitioning into a selling company, we realise our services are as important as our technology. This means we will continue to offer workability forecasts, operator training, redundancy packages and provide logistical assistance to clients who buy our systems. Additionally, the 24/7 support offered by the company’s Operation Control Centre (OCC) will ensure that downtimes are kept to a bare minimum, meaning further increases in operational efficiency.”
With this sale, Ampelmann has sold a total of five W-types in the last four months. The first system sold was to Olympic and is to be installed on the Olympic Orion which is currently being converted to a CSOV. This first order marked the SOV-market entry for Ampelmann. Source photo: Ampelmann
