Ulstein HX122 is designed to deal with set up of ever bigger offshore wind farm foundations
With analysts and brokers predicting a big scarcity of offshore wind basis set up vessels —and with the projected sizes of these foundations rising — Ulstein has expanded its portfolio with the Ulstein HX122 design. The design options an Ulstein X-Bow and an 8,000-tonne ultra-high-capacity crane.
New offshore wind basis set up tonnage is shortly wanted, with Ulstein citing Clarksons Platou Securities as saying that this a part of the market is “the most under-ordered segment in offshore wind.”
“We identified and addressed that issue already some years ago,” says Nick Wessels, advertising and marketing & gross sales supervisor at Ulstein Design & Solutions BV. “Based on extensive market studies we developed what we believe is the most efficient solution for the industry; the Ulstein HX118 design.”
Wessels provides that the fast developments within the offshore wind business create uncertainty and that, for some future tasks, Ulstein now sees a choice to put in even bigger foundations of as much as 5,000 tons. That creates a necessity for a good larger capability vessel than the HX118, which was introduced in February of this 12 months and which has a 5,000 tonne crane. Enter the HX122.
“Significant R&D effort has been put into the development of our heavy lift vessel portfolio, working closely with industry partners on mission equipment integration, operability performance and lowering CO2 emissions, creating safer and more efficient installation vessels using proven technologies,” says Ko Stroo, product supervisor at Ulstein Design & Solutions BV. “The Ulstein HX122 is our latest and largest heavy lift vessel design, allowing contractors to keep pace with the rapid growth of wind turbine foundations.”
Main dimensions of the ULSTEIN HX122 are:
LOA 230.0 meters
Beam 61.6 meters
Crane capability 8,000 tonnes
Deck space , ,10,000 sq. meters
Deck energy 15 – 30 tonnes/sq. meter
Draft 7.5 – 11.0 meters
Complement 180 individuals
