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Otto Candies IMR Vessel to Get ‘Walk-to-Work’ System for U.S. Offshore Wind Work

MV Paul Candies. Photo courtesy Otto Candies

Otto Candies IMR Vessel to Get ‘Walk-to-Work’ System for U.S. Offshore Wind Work

Mike Schuler
Total Views: 3995
April 22, 2022

Netherlands-based “Walk-to-Work” specialist Ampelmann has announced a contract to supply one of its high-tech systems for an Inspection, Maintenance and Repair Vessel (IMR) being retrofitted by Otto Candies for operations in the U.S. offshore wind market.

Ampelmann is a leader in so-called “Walk-to-Work” technology, specializing in motion-compensated gangways for offshore personnel transfers. The company says the contract marks an “important turning point” as it first in the U.S. offshore wind sector and also the introduction of the “Walk-to-Work” concept in the renewable energy sector in the U.S.

Siemens Gamesa announced the charter of Otto Candies’ Jones Act-compliant IMR vessel Paul Candies in December. The vessel will be used to assist in the installation of 89 turbines at two offshore wind farms off the U.S. Northeast coast—the South Fork and Revolution wind farms being developed by Ørsted and Eversource.

According to Ampelmann, one of its E1000 systems will be fitted onto the Paul Candies to support the hook-up and commissioning of turbines. The E1000 system is fully motion-compensated in all six degrees of freedom in relation to the vessel and turbine, resulting in no movement of the gangway or crane boom in sea states up to 4. 5 meters. The system can also hoist cargo, equipment, and tools up to 1,000kg.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Otto Candies for choosing us to facilitate this important operation,” said Steven Kaub, Ampelmann’s business developer for U.S. offshore wind. “Over the years we have developed a solid relationship with Otto Candies, and their enduring trust in our systems and services allows us to showcase what we can offer to the US offshore renewable market.”

Ampelmann has been operating in the U.S. offshore oil and gas sector for over a decade, during which its motion-compensated systems have become a well-known feature of vessels in the U.S., but this contract marks its first in the U.S. wind sector.

“As these are some of the first commercial-scale wind farms in the USA, we are particularly proud to be a part of this historical accomplishment together with Otto Candies,” said Kaub. “This is a significant achievement for the company, and it will highlight the efficiency and safety our systems bring to the American renewable energy sector, as it has done in Europe and Asia. Ampelmann is keen to take on an active role in the emerging US offshore wind market.”

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