OHT orders innovative wind farm foundation installation vessel at CMHI

The innovative 48,000 dwt vessel design was developed by OHT with Ulstein Design & Solutions, Liebherr and DNV GL.

The contract with CMHI is for one firm newbuilding plus up to three options, with the initial vessel ready for project deployment in early 2021.

The vessel design combines over 10,000 sq m of usuable deck area with a 3,000 tonne crane and the ablility to submerge offshore. The vessel can carry up ten 1,500 tonne ultra-large jacket foundations or eleven 2,000 tonne XXL monopiles together with transition pieces and mission equipment can be loaded on to the decks, transported to the wind farm, and installed.

“We have one overriding goal with this initiative; to bring down the cost of building offshore windfarms. Our existing fleet already represents the most efficient way of transporting offshore windfarm foundations over long distances. Combining this with the patent pending Ulsteun Alfa Lift installation vessel design, we expect to set a new benchmark in cost per foundation installed,” said Torgeir E. Ramstad, ceo for OHT.

Designed with environmental performance in mind the vessel will feature hybrid battery propulsion, a scrubber and be Tier III compliant. It will be flagged with the Norwegian International Ship Register.

Edwin van Leeuwen, managing director at Ulstein Design & Solutions said, "Creating a new design with this combination of functionalities has its own, specific challenges, but it is rewarding that two years after signing our mutual NDA, OHT has contracted a shipyard to build this new vessel type. The success of the project comes for account of the close and fruitful cooperation between OHT’s team and our design team, led by Dolf Manschot."