New Hydrogen-Ready Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Design Gets ABS Stamp of Approval

The American Bureau of Shipping has stamp of approval on the design of a new hydrogen-ready wind turbine installation vessel intended for the U.S. market.

The Approval in Principal was to Ned Project Inc. for its Jones Act compliant NP20000X ULAM design, which was developed to meet future offshore wind market demands by having the capability of handling 15-20 MW wind turbine installations. The design loads monopiles vertically on the 8,000 square-meter (m2) deck, eliminating the need to rotate monopiles to the vertical position at sea, which is intended to increase efficiency and safety. The design is also equipped with a leg encircling heavy cargo crane with a working load of 3,500 metric tons capable of handling turbines of 240-meter rotor diameter and 150-meter tower height.

Currently only one Jones Act compliant WTIV, named Charybdis, which is also built to ABS class, is under development and with several offshore wind projects in the pipeline for U.S. federal waters, the demand for domestically-built WTIVs is undoubtedly growing.

“ABS is the ideal partner for a highly specialized wind turbine installation vessel such as this, both for the U.S. market and internationally,” said Greg Lennon, ABS Vice President, Offshore Wind. “Our extensive knowledge of U.S. regulations combined with our global offshore industry leadership means we are uniquely equipped to support this project and a range of other innovative vessels now being commissioned to support the growing international demand for renewable energy. ABS is committed to playing a significant role in the safe development of the U.S. offshore wind industry.”

The first U.S.-flagged Jones Act offshore wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) ever ordered will also be built to ABS Class, joining the first ABS-classed crew transfer vessel (CTV) in the United States, named Windserve Odyssey. ABS has also issued AIPs for a series of wind support vessels from European designers.

Ned Project is now working with U.S.-based GPZ Energy to develop domestic WTIV projects using the ULAM design.

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